Sudan: UK government begins evacuation of British people

The United Kingdom Prime Minster, Rishi Sunak says the government has begun a large-scale complex evacuation of British people from Sudan.

Royal Air Force flights, RAF will be leaving from an airfield outside the capital Khartoum with seats given on a priority basis.

Report says rival military factions agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire from Monday night in the country, where at least 400 people have been killed in fighting since April 15.

Meanwhile, families with children, the elderly, and people with medical conditions will be prioritised.

UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly said officials have started contacting British nationals.

Ministers have come under increasing pressure to help UK citizens flee the fierce fighting.

Around 4,000 UK citizens are thought to be in Sudan and 2,000 of them have already requested help, Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell said on Monday.

Only British passport holders and their immediate family with existing UK entry clearance are eligible, the government has said.

Many have spent days indoors with food and drink running low and no electricity or Wi-Fi.

Several have spoken of their anger at being left behind, while other foreign nationals and embassy staff were flown out.

On Sunday, the UK airlifted diplomats and their families out of Sudan in a military operation.

Meanwhile, the ceasefire in Sudan appears to be holding so far after taking effect at midnight on Monday, but the Foreign Office has warned the ability to carry out evacuations could change at short notice.

However, there were no reports of sounds of gunfire overnight and the streets of Khartoum remain largely empty.

Sir Nicholas Kay, a former UK ambassador to Sudan, said the situation in Khartoum was precarious and the security situation could change rapidly because there was no trust between the two sides in the conflict.

BBC/Christopher Ojilere