On Sunday, as part of an operation to evacuate Americans from the turmoil in Sudan, a second convoy of US citizens coordinated by the United States government arrived in Port Sudan.
“Today, a second convoy led by the United States Government landed in Port Sudan. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller tweeted on Sunday that the agency was helping U.S. citizens and others who qualified to go on to Jeddah, where “additional personnel” were standing by to provide consular and emergency services.
This is the second United States convoy in as many days, and it comes at a time when Americans in Sudan are becoming increasingly frustrated that their government has seemingly abandoned them as they try to make their own way through a difficult and potentially deadly situation.
Hundreds of people, including two Americans, and many more have been injured since fighting broke out earlier this month between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces. Those still confined to their houses face food, water, medical, and power shortages, putting the country at risk of a humanitarian catastrophe.
US issues warning to travel to Sudan
The United States government had insisted for nearly a week that conditions were not suitable for a civilian evacuation, despite the fact that a number of other countries had already evacuated their nationals. Last weekend, the military carried out an operation to safely remove all US government employees.
But in a statement released on Sunday, Miller said that with the help of international partners, the United States has “facilitated the departure of nearly 1,000 US citizens from Sudan.” “Departure options for U.S. citizens have included seats on partner country flights, partner country and international organization convoys, U.S. government organized convoys, and departure via sea as well,” he elaborated.
Miller said the US government has organized and protected the convoys through military surveillance, coordination with other nations on flights and convoys, and ongoing diplomatic outreach to the fewer than 5,000 US citizens in Sudan “who have sought guidance from the government.”
A humanitarian truce in Sudan has been extended by the Sudan Armed Forces for another 72 hours, beginning at midnight on Monday morning, thanks to mediation from the United States and Saudi Arabia. On Sunday, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of Sudan reached an agreement to prolong the ceasefire until Monday at midnight local time.
The timing of the conclusion of hostilities in Sudan is unknown. Fights have been reported in areas distant from Khartoum, the capital city, but both sides claim control over strategic landmarks.
The Sudanese Armed Forces are estimated to have between 210,000 and 220,000 members, whereas the paramilitary forces are estimated to have roughly 70,000 members but are more trained and better equipped.
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