Thousands of Britons in Sudan may have just hours to escape on RAF flights out

25 April 2023 , 09:55

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An RAF Hercules C-130J, similar to the plane seen here, was spotted flying north of Khartoum (Image: Rex Features)

The rescue operation to pluck stranded Britons from war-torn Sudan is taking place in a “dangerous and volatile" security situation, the Foreign Secretary warned today.

RAF planes are flying UK nationals to safety from an airfield north of the capital Khartoum.

Just after 9am, a flight tracking website showed an RAF Hercules C130-J - the type used by Special Forces, including the SAS - flying at 5,000ft and climbing north of Khartoum as flight RRR9909.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said Britons would need to make their own way to the airbase where the evacuation was being launched without an escort.

But he admitted that, with previous ceasefires having disintegrated, “it is impossible for us to predict how long this opportunity will last”.

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"We will maintain this airhead for as long as we can but the situation does remain dangerous and volatile," Mr Cleverly.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly (Virginia Mayo/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

"This is an active conflict, the ceasefire has been announced but we know there have been pockets of violence even within previous ceasefires.

"So this does remain dangerous, this does remain difficult. We are providing what assistance we can and we are operating as quickly as we can."

He revealed he had made contact with the leaders of the rival military factions in Sudan.

But it was impossible to predict how long the window for the evacuation would remain open.

"It is important to remember that ceasefires have been announced and have fallen apart in the past, so the situation remains dangerous, volatile and unpredictable," he said.

"I've spoken - either directly or through intermediaries - with the leaders of the factions on the ground, calling on them to allow British nationals, dual nationals and minors to be evacuated and we will continue to push for the maintenance of this ceasefire.

Fighting has left hundreds dead (INDONESIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY/AFP)

"Of course, it is impossible for us to predict how long this opportunity will last and we are calling people forward in priority order based on their vulnerability."

He added: "We have said that we are unable to provide escorts from where British nationals are to the airhead, they will have to make their own way there - as indeed has been the case for the nationals of other countries."

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