Up to 3,000 Brits still stuck in Sudan before 10pm deadline to reach RAF planes
Up to 3,000 British nationals may have just hours left to flee Sudan amid warnings a fragile ceasefire could crumble.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said “sporadic” fighting had flared in the capital Khartoum, with the uneasy truce due to end at 10pm UK time.
The Cabinet Minister urged British citizens hoping to leave the war zone to race to the Wadi Saeedna airfield 18 miles north of Khartoum to meet RAF mercy flights.
“It’s impossible to predict what will happen at the end of this ceasefire,” he told the BBC.
“We are already seeing there has been sporadic re-escalation of violence in Khartoum.
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Foreign Secretary James Cleverly (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)“There is no guarantee that this ceasefire will make it through to the scheduled end point and there’s definitely no guarantees that it can be extended.”
More than 530 people were airlifted to safety on six British military flights as of 9pm on Wednesday.
More planes are due to take off today, amid fears more than 3,000 Britons could still be trapped in the African country.
RAF planes are understood to be airborne, carrying UK nationals to safety.
Mr Cleverly insisted the Government “always planned to evacuate” British citizens under “whatever circumstances on the ground”.
"The ceasefire that we had called for in conjunction with our international allies has made it considerably easier,” he told Sky news.
"What we're saying to British nationals is if you're hesitant, if you're weighing up your options, our strong, strong advice is to go through Wadi Saeedna whilst the ceasefire is up and running.
"There are planes, there is capacity, we will lift you out.
“I'm not able to make those same assurances once a ceasefire has ended."
Speaking to MPs this afternoon, the Foreign Secretary said the UK will "endeavour to keep evacuating people" from Sudan if the ceasefire does not hold.
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He said: "We will endeavour to keep evacuating people through the airhead in Wadi Seidna but we cannot guarantee our ability to do so.
"We are exploring the support to other routes, which is why we have set up a temporary presence at Port Sudan and why we have officials at the border in the neighbouring countries."
The UK is pushing hard to extend the ceasefire, he added.
The Sudanese families of British nationals must be allowed to flee the country alongside their relatives, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said.
He told the Commons: "It is not right that British nationals are unable to leave because their close Sudanese family members are being excluded from safe passage, especially as we know that planes have left the airfield without being full."
Africa Minister Andrew Mitchell (PA)Plans have been drawn up for a maritime evacuation through the Port of Sudan if the air strip becomes unusable.
A Royal Navy frigate and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship are steaming to the coastline to be ready to rescue Britons.
But those desperate to flee would face a 500-mile journey across the desert from the capital in 40C heart to reach Port of Sudan.
Africa Minister Andrew Mitchell warned that an end to the ceasefire could result in a humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan.
He told the foreign affairs think tank Chatham House: "It is essential that a ceasefire is maintained and that a political process is secured.
"If not, the humanitarian consequences will be incalculable.
"The UK will continue to work tirelessly to help bring an end to the violence and provide vital humanitarian relief."
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