Stranded as battle rages
Brits are left in war-torn Sudan as diplomats flee
HUNDREDS of Brits were feared to have been left stranded in Sudan as diplomats were pulled out of the country yesterday.
British nationals left behind were urged to stay indoors following days of vicious fighting in the African nation that has left hundreds dead.
Official numbers of Brits trapped is rising as more of them follow advice to register with the Foreign Office.
A COBRA emergencies committee meeting was due to be held last night.
A British teacher stuck in capital Khartoum blasted the Foreign Office. William, from Coventry, West Mids, said: “It basically said, ‘ You’re on your own, we’re not going to mount any sort of effort at all’.” He added they heard “literally nothing” from the Bri t ish government for about four days.
William said: “Luckily our son is in the UK, so he passed on my and my wife’s information and we’re on a list.
“We heard an explosion two kilometres away. It’s the most scared I’ve been.”
The PM said diplomats were plucked to safety in a “rapid evacuation”. Rishi Sunak added: “We’re continuing to pursue every avenue to end the bloodshed and ensure the safety of British nationals.”
Sam, a British businessman, said the embassy evacuation “gave hope, but in the absence of information from the Government, this was clearly a solution for diplomats only”.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed: “UK armed forces undertook a military operation alongside the US, France and other allies. It involved more than 1,200 personnel.”
Airports are now battlegrounds for the Sudanese army and paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned until the conflict ended “we’re severely limited in our ability to provide assistance”.
Explosion 2km away is the most scared I’ve ever been
TEACHER WILLIAM ON LIFE IN KHARTOUM
EVACUATING British diplomats from civil war-ravaged Sudan and leaving other terrified Britons behind is a job half done.
The Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence must attempt to lead our civilians to safety, not abandon them to the mercy of a power struggle between the country’s regular army and a rebel paramilitary force.
We applaud the professionalism and bravery of British forces on the ground, yet the worry is that UK nationals sheltering in homes and compounds are still in mortal danger.
Nobody pretends that rescuing Britons will be easy but we must try.