Canadians Trapped in Sudan: Evacuations “Not Possible”

Canada has informed its citizens currently in Sudan that evacuations are “not possible at this time” due to the closure of airspace amid the fierce fighting between rival forces.

The Canadian government urged its citizens to “continue to shelter in place” and assured them that it was “coordinating with other countries to respond to the crisis.”

This announcement was made before the US President Joe Biden’s announcement that US government personnel and their families had been evacuated by special forces troops.

Saudi Arabia had also announced earlier that it had evacuated Canadian nationals from Sudan to Saudi Arabia. However, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not provide the number of Canadians it had helped to evacuate.

There are 1,596 Canadians signed up to the Registration of Canadians Abroad Service in Sudan, but this number only provides an estimate of Canadians in Sudan as registration is voluntary. Since registration is voluntary, the number of registrants for any given area is typically not fully representative of the number of Canadians actually residing or visiting that area.

Fierce fighting erupted in the northeastern country on April 15 between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The ensuing violence has seen hundreds killed and thousands wounded, igniting fears of a humanitarian catastrophe.

Many Sudanese people have been desperately trying to flee escalating violence in Khartoum, where hospitals are being flooded with victims. Bus tickets out of the conflict zone are estimated to be at least five times more expensive than before, making escaping Sudan now no easy task.

Survivors have told CNN that they wanted to leave the country “at any cost.”

“Death surrounded us from all directions so I said it would be better for us to die attempting to cling to life while trying to survive instead of dying by a stray bullet at home or maybe dying of hunger or thirst,” said a father of four.

Apart from Canadians, Saudi authorities have also evacuated people from 11 other countries, including Qatar, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as its own citizens.

The situation remains tense in Sudan, and efforts are being made to ensure the safety of all foreign nationals trapped in the conflict zone.

In conclusion, the Canadian government’s announcement that evacuations are “not possible at this time” has put many Canadians in Sudan in a state of uncertainty and fear.

As the conflict continues to escalate, efforts by the international community are being made to evacuate foreign nationals from the region and ensure their safety. The situation in Sudan remains volatile, and people are advised to heed the warnings of their respective governments and stay safe.