A Scots mum and her kids were desperately trying to be included in a mass evacuation of Brits from war-torn Sudan last night after a terrifying journey to the airbase unfolded “like a movie”.
Jennifer McLellan, a teacher from Islay, and her family are among thousands of UK citizens who need to be rescued amid a ceasefire around capital Khartoum.
The 36-year-old told the Record how she, her husband and four children made a hazardous dash to the military airbase which saw them faced with gunfire after their car tyre blew out and forced to pay demands for hundreds of pounds to get them to safety.
A huge UK rescue mission got underway in the African nation just hours after the terrified mum told the Record she felt “abandoned” by the British authorities amid the power struggle between the Sudanese army and a powerful paramilitary force.
Describing the family’s horror journey to the evacuation point, Jennifer said: “It was eventful to say the least. We drove through a rough area to cut the journey in half and our tyre blew out.
“We were on a dangerous road. We tried to call many people to help but no one has fuel.
“My husband found a guard at a farm and was able to put the car inside the gate and wait.
“Two young men on in a bus took the opportunity to broker themselves a deal - 200000 SDG (more than £300) to drive us and my brother in law to the base.”
But the family were then told a bridge they needed to cross was closed.
Jennifer said: “The local boys took us through neighbourhoods and we were met by fleeing Rapid Support Forces trucks firing shots as they went. We drove so fast.
“We finally got to the bridge and made our way through check points. It was like a movie.”
After losing contact with her family in Scotland for several hours, Jennifer updated her frantic loved ones to say they had reached the base.
She said: “We have no idea when we might leave. We’re just waiting.
“We are very relieved and doing well considering.”
Jennifer slammed the UK Government on Monday after British diplomats were removed from the capital, saying the 4000 citizens left behind had been offered little advice or support with fuel and food supplies running low.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the UK was coordinating the evacuation of its nationals as a 72-hour US-brokered ceasefire between the Sudan armed forces and Rapid Support Forces got underway.
The US and Saudi Arabia mediated the truce following two days of intense negotiations. But the two sides have not abided by several previous temporary deals meaning the evacuation process is fraught with danger.
More than 2000 citizens had registered in Sudan with the Foreign Office but the overall figure has been estimated at closer to 4000.
Sunak said: “The Government has begun a large-scale evacuation of British passport holders from Sudan on RAF flights. Priority will be given to the most vulnerable including families with children and the elderly.
“I pay tribute to the British Armed Forces, diplomats and Border Force staff carrying out this complex operation. The UK will continue to work to end the bloodshed in Sudan and support a democratic government.”
The British Foreign Office said nationals should not make their way to the airfield unless they are called, and warned the situation remained volatile, meaning the ability to conduct evacuations could change at short notice.
But Foreign Secretary James Cleverly later said nationals must make their own way to the flights, saying they are “unable to provide escorts”.
Jennifer said: “We waited for the call but many people didn’t receive a call and just made their way themselves.
“There was no assistance, very little info and it was short notice.”
Meanwhile, other Scots have spoken of being caught up in the conflict.
Amar Osman from Dunfermline, Fife, was visiting relatives with wife Fatma Giha in Omdurman, near Khartoum.
He said: “They were running along my street last night shooting and chasing people. People are going into houses with guns and taking everything: phones, money, shoes. It’s getting very wild.”
And Romisa Albashir, who lives in Aberdeen, told of her grief at learning a close family friend had been shot dead while visiting hospital for dialysis.
She said: “This is someone I have known since I was a wee girl. That’s the situation they are living in.”
Evacuees are expected to be taken from the Wadi Saeedna airfield, secured by German forces, to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus before being brought to Britain.
Around 1400 military are involved.
Cleverly also defended the government from suggestions it should have carried out evacuations sooner.
He said: “The circumstances for each individual nation are different. There are considerably more British nationals in Sudan than other countries have.”
Two military ships, RFA Cardigan Bay and HMS Lancaster, are being considered for possible evacuations.
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