First British evacuees from Sudan arrive in Cyprus

British nationals, who have been evacuated from Sudan, arrive at the Larnaca International Airport, in Larnaca, Cyprus, April 25, 2023. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou

The first British civilians evacuated from Sudan arrived on the island of Cyprus on Tuesday, Cyprus's foreign ministry said, airlifted out by Britain after warring factions agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire.

A passenger plane belonging to Britain's Royal Air Force with about 40 civilians on board landed at Cyprus's Larnaca airport, said a foreign ministry spokesperson.

Authorities had expected 40 people, though another diplomatic source said there were 39 people on board.

British nationals, who have been evacuated from Sudan, arrive at the Larnaca International Airport, in Larnaca, Cyprus, April 25, 2023. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou

Two further flights were expected later on Tuesday and early Wednesday, carrying about 220 people in total.

Earlier, Cyprus said it had activated a humanitarian rescue mechanism to evacuate third-country civilians through the island from Sudan, following a United Kingdom request.

British nationals, who have been evacuated from Sudan, arrive at the Larnaca International Airport, in Larnaca, Cyprus, April 25, 2023. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou

(Reporting by Michele Kambas; Editing by Josie Kao)

Joint Forces board the C-130 bound for Sudan to evacuate British embassy diplomats and their families, in RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus April 25, 2023. LPHOT MARK JOHNSON/Pool via REUTERS