The first flight carrying British nationals evacuated from Sudan landed at Stansted Airport on Wednesday afternoon as thousands more face a desperate scramble to escape war-torn Sudan amid reports of sniper fire on some roads.
Six UK flights have evacuated 536 people from Sudan, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed on Wednesday night.
The first flight landed at Stansted about 2.30pm.
But Britons and dual nationals on the ground described making “perilous” trips to safety on their own.
Many have struggled to travel to the airfield north of Khartoum where evacuation flights are taking place before a 72-hour ceasefire ends. Problems navigating trips to escape points have been compounded by petrol shortages.
It comes as criticism of the Government’s “slow” response to the crisis grew.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said between 200 and 300 British nationals had already been taken out of the country in three rescue missions.
But Chair of the Defence Select Committee Tobias Ellwood said he had heard from one of his constituents who had to make her own “perilous journey” to Port Sudan.
He told the Standard: “The MoD has made a formidable effort... but a fundamental question will be asked about why that airbridge [out of Sudan] was switched off once the diplomats and families had been removed and why it took so much time to switch it back on.
“There will be questions about whether we learned from Afghanistan.”
The senior Tory MP called for the UK embassy to be moved to Port Sudan on the Red Sea in a show of support.
“We must show Sudan, the many British expats and dual passport holders there, that as a member of the United Nations Security Council we will not just leave them,” he said. “We cannot let this turn into another Libya or Somalia.”
Samar Eltayeb, a UK-born student attempting to flee, said she did not have enough petrol to make the one-hour drive from the outskirts of Khartoum to the airstrip.
The 20-year-old, from Birmingham, said petrol stations were empty: “There’ll be constant flights within the next few days, but if I can’t find gas to get there, then I’m stuck.”
British charity worker Yasmin Sholgami said her grandparents are stranded in Khartoum without food and water. Despite the apparent ceasefire between the army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the couple have reported gunfire and shelling.
Each time relatives have tried to reach them “they’ve been shot at by snipers”, Ms Sholgami told the BBC
British citizen Wathig Ali said he had been trying to flee Khartoum with his pregnant wife and their six-year-old son. He told the BBC: “I know I am taking a risk going on the journey. Our worst fear is the bombing and the checkpoints on the way to the airport.
“Our house is surrounded by RSF soldiers. Some of them are nice, but some are extremely hostile.”
British military and diplomatic chiefs are understood to be planning at least three more flights out of the country today as the first evacuees were expected to arrive in London.
More than 2,000 British citizens have registered in Sudan with the Foreign Office. British warship, HMS Lancaster, was also set to arrive off the coast of Sudan with RFA Cardigan Bay.
Port Sudan could be used for evacuations if the 72-hour ceasefire between warring factions in Sudan collapses and prevents evacuation flights. It could also later be used to bring in supplies to tackle a feared humanitarian crisis.
Ms Braverman said: “We are now commencing an extensive operation, working with over 1,000 personnel from the RAF and the armed forces.”
Announcing the completion of Germany’s evacuation efforts, the country’s foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not leave civilians “to their own devices”, in an apparent swipe at the UK’s approach.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was “right” that diplomats were prioritised “because they were being targeted”.
British forces are expected to take over control of running Wadi Saeedna airstrip from German troops. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said 120 British troops have already been supporting the operation there.
