South Africa has commenced evacuation of dozens of diplomats and other nationals who are trapped in the warring Sudan.
Al-Jazeera reports that South Africa’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Clayson Monyela disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists.
Al-Jazeera on Monday quoted Monyela as saying, “I can confirm that the operation to evacuate South Africans in Sudan and the staff at the South African embassy there is currently underway. They are being taken to a neighbouring country for safety.”
Monyela did not, however, reveal the numbers to be evacuated or the neighbouring country they would be taken to.
President Cyril Ramaphosa had earlier on Monday told reporters in Johannesburg that some 77 South Africans were stuck in Sudan, adding that South Africa would “assist other nationals” from “our region” who are stranded in Sudan.
Recall that several countries including Belgium, Canada, India, the Netherlands, the United States, the United Kingdom and France, have launched evacuation operations – some via Port Sudan on the Red Sea, which is about 650km (400 miles) northeast of Khartoum but nearly 800km (500 miles) by road.
War broke out in Sudan when its army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces began clashing across Sudan, killing hundreds and causing acute shortages of water, food, medicines and fuel.
Since the war started, no fewer than 400 people died in the battle, forcing hospitals to be closed as infrastructures were bombed.