Cape Town – South African nationals trapped in war-torn Sudan have reportedly described the situation as dire and expressed disappointment at the lack of communication and assistance from the government in evacuating them.
This comes as AFP reported on Monday that foreign countries rushed to evacuate their citizens from the east African country, as deadly fighting raged into a second week between forces loyal to two rival generals.
Evacuation flights were continuing early Monday, with hundreds of people flown out overnight on military aircraft, the report said.
Foreigners also fled the capital Khartoum in a long UN convoy, while millions of frightened residents hunkered down inside their homes, many running low on water and food.
ALSO READ | ‘We need all your help,’ says SA woman as fighting rages in Sudan
According to News24, expat Ash Ramraj said the conditions he and his colleagues were living under in Sudan were unbearable.
Ramraj left South Africa on 11 March for work.
“We have just received a request for a meeting point, which is a two-and-a-half-hour walk, from where we are because we cannot get transportation.
“For us to leave the building is impossible, because there are gunshots everywhere. There are about 10 dead bodies lying outside of our building, that’s how bad it is.
“In my building, there are a few expats from South Africa, the UK and even Kenya. We are all trying to get out of here,” the report quoted Ramraj as saying.
Meanwhile, EWN quoted another South African Birgitte Davy, who has been working as a human resources specialist in Khartoum, as saying that embassies had been evacuating their citizens and some people were fleeing to other cities in Sudan.
BREAKING: 70 American diplomats and their families have just been evacuated from the US embassy in Khartoum, Sudan. Details:
– A U.S Forces Mission consisting of 6 aircraft were deployed for the evacuation.
– This came a few hours after the U.S. Embassy in Sudan issued a… pic.twitter.com/6Dd94tBXLZ
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) April 23, 2023
Davy said that while many were making their way out of the city, desperate South Africans remained in limbo.
“Our South African embassy has been in touch with us, but their repeated call for us has been to be calm and to wait and to sit tight,” the report quoted her as saying.
Last week, the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco) said it was exploring options to assist about 100 stranded SA citizens.
Dirco said the SA embassy in Sudan was not open, adding that the airport was also closed.
“The SA embassy like all others is not operational. The streets are dangerous. There’s intense fighting including airstrikes. Civilians have been killed. For now, we advise everyone to stay indoors. All options are being explored to assist our nationals. We don’t need drama please,” Monyela said.
The SA embassy like all others are not operational. The streets are dangerous. There’s intense fighting including airstrikes. Civilians have been killed. For now, we advise everyone to stay indoors. All options are being explored to assist our nationals. We don’t need drama pls.
— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) April 18, 2023
More than 420 people have been killed and thousands wounded, according to UN figures, amid fears of wider turmoil and a humanitarian disaster.
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Picture: Twitter/@krassenstein
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
