The first British nationals returning home after being evacuated from Sudan arrived in Bristol last week. This is according to the Bristol Sudanese Community Association, which is monitoring the situation closely in Khartoum where there is a ceasefire following fierce fighting between two warring factions in the city.
Secretary of the association Mohammed Elsharif said: “The first families should have arrived while others will still be returning . It’s a tricky situation as some do not want to leave family behind, such as a partner or parent who may not have a British passport.
“It’s a tricky situation and we are dealing with this day by day,” said Mr Elsharif who is in contact with families in Khartoum, but said intermittent internet was affecting communications. He added: “It’s very hard as medical assistance and access to hospitals is lacking for those who are injured and food and water are also a big issue.
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“Despite the ceasefire in place, there are still shortages and the threat of having two armies,” he said. The Sudanese Community Association will host a fundraiser on the Bank Holiday Monday (May 1) at the Trojan Centre in St Jude's to help families affected by the crisis, which is open to the public.
Bristol councillor, Mohamed Makawi said the Sudanese community in Bristol were “very worried” about families in Khartoum. In a statement, he said: “My family is under siege due to the ongoing fighting between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support militia.
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“The fighting has been on-going since last Saturday and their conditions are very difficult, killing and looting in the streets and houses. There are about 4,000 British-Sudanese stranded in Sudan, their evacuation started two days ago.”
He added Sudanese people require 'safe passage for civilians and ambulance crews from Red Crescent and the Red Cross to reach the wounded, opening hospitals and not attacking them'. He said electricity, water, food supplies and internet need to be urgently restored.
Meanwhile, there have been reports that British nationals in Khartoum were facing dangerous journeys to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip in the hope of boarding an evacuation flight out of Sudan. One Sudanese-British citizen said some people are too scared to make the trip as another described “complete chaos” on the streets.
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Dr Ehab Al-Moubarak, from Bristol, is on his way to the airfield from his parent’s home in Wad Madani, around 195km south of the Sudanese capital. He had originally travelled to the country to visit his mother and father during Ramadan and Eid.
He said: “The issue with security is that it is very difficult to get or evaluate information and as such every rumour needs to be considered. The rumour is that there is clashes here and they’re within the route (to the airfield).”
After waiting for a minibus with around '25 to 30' other British citizens, Dr Al-Moubarak said the number dwindled to just two as many decided not to take the risk on the estimated eight-hour journey. “We don’t know how long it will take,” he said.
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“To be honest, normally the drive would take around three hours to get there but now it could take eight hours if we get there. It’s difficult to get a minibus because no one wants to drive there.”
The 46-year-old, who works as a scientist at the University of Bristol, has been forced to leave his mother and father behind. He said: “I never thought something like this would happen.
“People are very shocked about the scenes here. I live in a city that’s quite safe but many people in this city are working or studying in Khartoum. every family has a family member in Khartoum where it is bad."
The first flights carrying British nationals from Sudan arrived in the UK on Thursday (April) 27. Foreign secretary James Cleverley has said that when the ceasefire ends, the UK could not guarantee how many further evacuation flights will depart if the intense fighting resumes.
Update : The Sudanese Community Association will be holding a fundraising event on Sunday 7 May with personal testimonies of recent events in Khartoum which saw violence spiral out of control between two warring factions. There will also be a Sudanese Dinner and auction of popular Sudanese products. The event will start at 7pm, details and tickets are available here.
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