First batch of Sudanese evacuees from South Sudan arrive in Khartoum
July 15, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The first batch of Sudanese evacuees from South Sudan has arrived in Khartoum on Friday, said minister.
The violence, which has killed hundreds of people, broke out as the world’s newest nation prepared to mark five years of independence from Sudan on July 9.
In response to the mounting pressure from the international community, the rival leaders have unilaterally declared cessation of hostilities to stop the fighting.
An airplane carrying 76 people including women, children and elderly among 400 Sudanese stuck in Juba has landed in Khartoum airport at noon on Friday.
State Minister of Cabinet Affairs Jamal Mahmoud told reporters at the airport that the first flight was assigned to the families and the elderly people, pointing that four other flights would respectively arrive on Friday night and Saturday.
He added that Sudan would run three to four flights daily to evacuate its nationals from South Sudan, pointing to the continued efforts of the Sudanese embassy in Juba and the ad hoc committees to secure and evacuate all Sudanese citizens.
Mahmoud pointed that South Sudan’s government has shown considerable cooperation in this regard, denying that any Sudanese was injured during the bloody clashes.
He further said that the number of Sudanese nationals who registered for evacuation in Juba and the rest of cities has exceeded 3,000 people, pointing the evacuation process was carried out in coordination among police, security organs, expatriates body and the Sudanese embassy in Juba.
The Sudanese minister revealed that some governments have asked Sudan to allow them evacuate their nationals in South Sudan via Khartoum airport.
(ST)