Aussies rescued from Sudan but fears for stranded

Dozens of Australians have been flown from war-torn Sudan by the Royal Australian Air Force, but some still remain in the country amid heavy fighting between rival military factions.

Australian Defence Force personnel and DFAT officials supported the international evacuation effort from Sudan. Picture: Twitter

Dozens of Australians have been flown from war-torn Sudan by the Royal Australian Air Force, but some still remain in the country amid heavy fighting between rival military factions.

A RAAF C-130 Hercules arrived in Cyprus early on Wednesday carrying 36 Australians, their family members and evacuees from six other nations, amid UN warnings the country was facing a “full-blown catastrophe”.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong revealed 191 Australians had been flown from capital Khartoum in a multinational evacuation mission since the unrest erupted about three weeks ago. The bloody power struggle between opposing generals has so far displaced 450,000 people, including 100,000 who have fled overseas.

Senator Wong said the security situation was “very dangerous” and the government was working to get the remaining Australians in the country out.

“We have been doing all we can to assist Australians, with the support of our partners, bearing in mind we don’t have people on the ground in an embassy in Sudan,” she told the ABC.

“Unfortunately, we still have Australians on the ground, and we’ll continue to engage through our consular team with the Australians who are on the ground, and I urge people to make sure they are registered.”

Senator Wong said some remaining Australians felt unable to leave the country, but the government would keep working to have them evacuated.

The evacuation is the biggest affecting Australians since the August 2021 Afghanistan airlift.

The RAAF aircraft was pre-positioned in Cypress, joining the rescue effort after a host of other nations helped bring Australians to safety.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said the government was grateful to its international partners, and Australia was “very keen to play our part”.

He said Australia would continue to support evacuation, and flagged ferries operating out of the Port of Sudan bound for Saudi Arabia as another potential option for those seeking to flee.

“We will keep working … to make sure that those who are seeking to leave Sudan are provided with the best opportunity of doing that,” Mr Marles said

The latest travel advice for Australians in Sudan is to leave the country “as soon as possible”.

“The security situation remains volatile, and violence could escalate with short notice. Carefully consider the risks for any departure route, including during ceasefires,” the advice says.

It warns travel is becoming more dangerous, including to border areas. Some land borders to neighbouring countries are closed.

More than 500 people have been killed in the conflict and more than 4000 have been wounded, Sudan’s Health Ministry said.

The warring factions agreed to a seven-day ceasefire on Tuesday amid air raids and shooting in the Khartoum region. But it was unclear whether the reported May 4-11 pause would hold.

Sudan’s military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and paramilitary rapid support forces leader, General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, are battling for control of the country after decades of civil wars.