The first U.S.-led effort helped evacuate hundreds of private American citizens by land, sea and air from the conflict in Sudan after two weeks of deadly fighting between the country’s two warring factions and a fragile truce.
“We are actively helping U.S. citizens who seek to depart Sudan to move overland to a location where they can more easily exit the country,” Vedant Patel, a State Department spokesperson told journalists.
Patel said that only a fraction of some 5,000 citizens had actively sought assistance to depart Sudan. “Several hundred U.S. citizens “have already departed Sudan, either by land, sea or aircraft,” he added.
A U.S. government-organized convoy carrying U.S citizens, locally employed staff and nationals from allied and partner countries arrived at Port Sudan on April 29, according to the State Department.
“From there, we are assisting U.S. citizens and others who are eligible with onward travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where additional U.S. personnel are positioned to assist with consular and emergency services,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.
The sudden eruption of violence left thousands of foreign nationals, including Americans, trapped in the East African nation. Reports suggest there could be an estimated 16,000 American citizens in Sudan, most of whom are reportedly dual nationals.
The U.S. evacuation efforts were announced amid increasing pressure to help its citizens flee the fierce fighting after the United States shuttered its diplomatic mission indefinitely and the embassy staff was evacuated with the help of U.S. special operations teams.
Since the conflict between two rival generals broke out on April 15 in Sudan, the U.S. has warned its citizens that they needed to find their own way out of the country. At least 512 people have been killed and close to 4,200 wounded in the conflict, according to the United Nations.
