The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) says a total of 2,518 Nigerians have been evacuated from Sudan back home.
The NIDCOM Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, Mr Abdur-Rahman Balogun said this in Abuja on Sunday while giving an update on the evacuation exercise.
Balogun said: ”As at today being Sunday, this is where we are with the evacuation exercise.
“The evacuation is done through a total number of 15 flights, with four from Aswan, Egypt and 11 from Port Sudan.
“As I said earlier a total of 2,371 evacuees have safely returned home as at Saturday, May 13.
“The new arrivals just now, are 140 adults, comprising three infants and 30 children making a total evacuation to 2,518.″
EVACUATION UPDATE: (Last Batch of Evacuation).
The 15th match of Evacuees: 147 Nationals that departed Port Sudan International Airport, landed at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport around 8:30 pm local time on May 13 via Tarco Air.
The total breakdown so far;
1st Batch -… pic.twitter.com/0mGS8NYko8
— Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (@nidcom_gov) May 13, 2023
The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Mustapha Ahmed who also gave an update on the evacuation exercise said; “Out of the 2,518, a total of 23 sick evacuees were received, out of these, 10 were treated on arrival by officials of NEMA, Port Health and other medical personnel within the airport, while 13 were referred to the 108 Nigerian Airforce hospital, Abuja.
“Among these is an 8-day old baby who was delivered while the mother was awaiting airlift from Port Sudan. The baby is currently being treated for jaundice at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, while a patient with hand injury is being treated at Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja.”
He described the war situation in Sudan as ‘Unforturnate,’ adding that there was no record of a Nigerian life lost in the conflict.
“Though we were faced with a lot of challenges, but we thank God we were able to evacuate them in a dignified manner.
“For every Nigerian that left Sudan, we had to pay about nine dollars for their exit, those that went through the Egyptian border, we had to pay 25 dollars per person for them to be allowed to exit,” he said.
The Director-General further disclosed that the identities of 160 women and children whose nationality remained uncertain are being profiled by the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan to ascertain their real identities.
“If they do not have Nigerian passports, they must be profiled first and we must know their addresses in Nigeria.
“If it is confirmed that they are truly Nigerians and not those claiming their fourth and fifth generations are from Nigeria, then they will be brought back.
“However, Nigerians willing to come back can indicate interest, as a mop-up exercise was still on-going,” he added.
Ahmed also appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the evacuation operation as well as the Ministers of Humanitarian Affairs and Foreign Affairs, for their support in the success of the exercise.
NAN/PIAK
