Sudan

Granygravy13 seems RAF have ready C-130 for transport out.

Sudan was under British control (1896-1955) along with Egypt, (Anglo-Egyptian Sudan) Administered both by Egypt and Britain. The French claimed several areas but, in 1899, after conflict France agreed to cede these areas to Anglo Egyptian Sudan. Since independence Sudan has had a very troubled history which sadly has again raised its ugly head.

Repatriation rescues are never simple and can be very risky, perhaps more risky than sitting tight. Too many people are rushing to judgment that the UK is doing nothing. There are likely some intense private discussions going on behind the scenes to pave the way.

Grantanow

Repatriation rescues are never simple and can be very risky, perhaps more risky than sitting tight. Too many people are rushing to judgment that the UK is doing nothing. There are likely some intense private discussions going on behind the scenes to pave the way.

Totally agree

Whitewavemark2

It was on BBC

Oh right, the BBC , so must be correct. Not sure I'd trust anything from the British bashing corporation.

Yes people are rushing to judgement. There are far fewer other nationalities in Sudan than the UK and America, particularly the Dutch who only have about 300 people on the ground. Britain has 4,000, America many more. Its not just a question of sending aircraft and flying people out, the whole exercise is extremely dangerous, as war zones often are! and needs careful strategy and complex planning.

Exactly Freya, as I said people were getting themselves out last week. As they were aware then.

GrannyGravy13

Grantanow

Repatriation rescues are never simple and can be very risky, perhaps more risky than sitting tight. Too many people are rushing to judgment that the UK is doing nothing. There are likely some intense private discussions going on behind the scenes to pave the way.

Totally agree

It looks like there’s a lot of cooperation between nations, they are filling up flights with nationals from other countries to get them out. That’s what is needed rather than bashing one country at the moment, let’s just get them out and the post mortem can happen later about who did it well and who didn’t.

There seems to be quite a bit of cooperation between nations. The British Akrotiri air base on Cyprus is being used by the French and Germans as well as the UK and some evacuations have included other countries' nationals. Some of these airstrips from former times prove useful and maybe need to be retained rather than run down.

Said on the news today that the aircraft being used to bring people back from Sudan will be decommissioned soon: another cost cutting measure. It doesn’t sound as though they’re going to be replaced either.

MayBee70

Said on the news today that the aircraft being used to bring people back from Sudan will be decommissioned soon: another cost cutting measure. It doesn’t sound as though they’re going to be replaced either.

As long as they get people out now, what happens to them afterwards is for a new thread.

Operational aircraft are subject to many safety checks and if these are at the end of their operational duty so be it.

MayBee70

Said on the news today that the aircraft being used to bring people back from Sudan will be decommissioned soon: another cost cutting measure. It doesn’t sound as though they’re going to be replaced either.

Seems the US brought their people out in special operations helicopters - whatever works for good result.

MayBee70

Said on the news today that the aircraft being used to bring people back from Sudan will be decommissioned soon: another cost cutting measure. It doesn’t sound as though they’re going to be replaced either.

The Hercules is being phased out to be replaced by new A400M transports larger and faster, 22 are ordered.

Apparently 2 plane loads 300 or so in total have been brought out, its going to need to be much faster although only 500 a day was the target, so it seems a lot will have to get out elsewhere. Problems are reported getting to the airfield and the runway is breaking up.

This may get very difficult.

There's no easy solution to the evacuation problem, and it's not appropriate to suggest that the Dutch have more of a handle on this than the U.K. does. The Dutch have around 300 Nationals there... we have around 4,000, so comparisons simply don't work. Also, I think that we have quite rightly being working behind the scenes, with others, to encourage a ceasefire which would then reduce the risks involved, but sadly not eliminate them.. We now have a 3 day ceasefire which is just about holding, and people are being encouraged to leave their "safe places" and to head for the main pick-up point... an airfield about 20 km north west of Khartoum, although this transit still remains fraught with danger. Fuel is also scarce in Khartoum, so this is an added complication. Bottom line.. the on-going evacuation is very much "seat of the pants" stuff, and I don't envy the Government and Military planners who have to make it work. A nightmare scenario, particularly for the Sudanese themselves.

Katie59

MayBee70

Said on the news today that the aircraft being used to bring people back from Sudan will be decommissioned soon: another cost cutting measure. It doesn’t sound as though they’re going to be replaced either.

The Hercules is being phased out to be replaced by new A400M transports larger and faster, 22 are ordered.

Apparently 2 plane loads 300 or so in total have been brought out, its going to need to be much faster although only 500 a day was the target, so it seems a lot will have to get out elsewhere. Problems are reported getting to the airfield and the runway is breaking up.

This may get very difficult.

Thanks Katie.

The Herks are old, they'll be replaced with new transports.

I think it likely quite a significant number of British nationals will not be evacuated given the situation on the ground.

Unfortunately I think you are correct.

I saw an item on the news this morning saying that approximately 2,000 people have been contacted by U.K. Government with evacuation details. These are U.K. nationals/passport holders that they have contact details for.

They think that there could be approximately up to another 2,000 who were in Sudan, some who may have already left independently.

I hope that the behind the scenes negotiations continue in good faith by all involved parties.

Grantanow

I think it likely quite a significant number of British nationals will not be evacuated given the situation on the ground.

In reading an interview with Lloyd Austin, it seems many countries will be forced to leave people back/not extract everyone.

TBH I’m not sure why anyone who didn’t actually need to be there, was visiting, even if they have family there. Sudan has been dangerous and unstable for quite a while.

Just last weekend I spoke to a humanitarian aid worker, a friend of a dd, who has been to Sudan several times for work, but said he wouldn’t be going again for the foreseeable. He said that even before the current conflict kicked off, he had narrowly missed a bullet that whizzed right past his head. He has young children to think of.

Last night on Question Time was raised the case of a Sudanese doctor trying to return to his NHS job in the UK who was denied a place on the UK rescue flight. Rachel MacLean, the Tory Minister, said discretion was exercised 'on the ground'. There are some 24 doctors trying to return to a short-staffed NHS and obviously the Tories don't care. MacLean blustered, obfuscated and gave an utterly unconvincing performance as noted this morning in the Huff Post. Braverman apparently said such doctors should make their own way back to the UK. Really? What a shambles. MacLean should be sacked.

Grantanow

Last night on Question Time was raised the case of a Sudanese doctor trying to return to his NHS job in the UK who was denied a place on the UK rescue flight. Rachel MacLean, the Tory Minister, said discretion was exercised 'on the ground'. There are some 24 doctors trying to return to a short-staffed NHS and obviously the Tories don't care. MacLean blustered, obfuscated and gave an utterly unconvincing performance as noted this morning in the Huff Post. Braverman apparently said such doctors should make their own way back to the UK. Really? What a shambles. MacLean should be sacked.

The priority so far has been women, children, the elderly and sick.

I assume the Doctor didn’t fit any of those categories.

Please do not automatically blame the British Forces at the airfield who are doing their best in what is a war zone.

GrannyGravy13

Grantanow

Last night on Question Time was raised the case of a Sudanese doctor trying to return to his NHS job in the UK who was denied a place on the UK rescue flight. Rachel MacLean, the Tory Minister, said discretion was exercised 'on the ground'. There are some 24 doctors trying to return to a short-staffed NHS and obviously the Tories don't care. MacLean blustered, obfuscated and gave an utterly unconvincing performance as noted this morning in the Huff Post. Braverman apparently said such doctors should make their own way back to the UK. Really? What a shambles. MacLean should be sacked.

The priority so far has been women, children, the elderly and sick.

I assume the Doctor didn’t fit any of those categories.

Please do not automatically blame the British Forces at the airfield who are doing their best in what is a war zone.

It wasn’t that, it was because these doctors aren’t British citizens, they have working visas for the UK, as so many foreign doctors who work in the NHS do. It does seem wrong that they aren’t being helped to return, as they will have jumped through many hoops to get their working visas, and the NHS does need them. They should be asked to remain at the airport and be allowed to take vacant seats if there are any.

Thanks for the clarification Casdon

It is unfortunate that the Doctors are caught up in the war, but evacuation at the moment is for U.K. citizens or those with duel
Nationality.

If they are Sudanese Nationals their Country will no doubt need Doctors if this power struggle develops into an all out civil war.

I dont think anyone is blaming British forces. Also on Question Time last night another participant ,who had served in Afghanistan spoke of his anger at the way Afghans who had worked for the British there were left.
It seems that communication is where this govt falls down in a big way . Yesterday , I think it was Mitchell who said safe
route s would be set up . This information was reversed by Braverman who said there woul be no safe route. (She is trying hard to be Cruella, isnt she ?)