Highlights: Evacuations in Sudan continue. The France, which opened the first airlift between Khartoum and Djibouti, has already ensured the departure of nearly 500 French and foreign nationals residing in the country. Called "Sagittarius", this evacuation operation is about to end, according to French diplomacy. The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs still stands at nearly 430 dead and 3,700 injured. The humanitarian situation, meanwhile, is worrying. Many civilians no longer have access to clean water and electricity, the spectre of food shortages looms.

Evacuations in Sudan continue. The France, which opened the first air bridge between Khartoum and Djibouti, has already ensured the departure of nearly 500 French and foreign nationals residing in the country.

Sudan: first assessment of the evacuation of the France

This photograph taken on April 23, 2023 and published by the General Staff of the Armed Forces shows ground staff assisted by aircraft mechanics, unloading luggage before the disembarkation of passengers at Air Base 188 in Djibouti on April 23, during the evacuation of a hundred people from Sudan. AFP - ADJ LAURE-ANNE MAUCORPS EP DERRI

Text by: RFI Follow

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Evacuations in Sudan continue. The France, which opened the first airlift between Khartoum and Djibouti, has already ensured the departure of nearly 500 French and foreign nationals residing in the country, plagued by deadly clashes between Sudanese army forces and paramilitary opponents. Called "Sagittarius", this evacuation operation is about to end, according to French diplomacy.

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Since Sunday, April 23, elements of the French army have secured the evacuation of 491 foreign nationals, including nearly 200 French citizens.

First transported by military convoy from Khartoum, all were dropped off at the Wadi Seidna air base, located about twenty kilometers from the capital. It is from this base that planes specially chartered for Djibouti, a small East African country known for hosting many foreign military bases, take off.

It was the France the first that opened the ball of evacuations by air, last Sunday, which is why several partner countries immediately asked her to take care of their respective fellow citizens. Among them are 38 Nigerien diplomats and trainees whose repatriation by French forces was welcomed by Niger's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After four Khartoum-Djibouti rotations, the airlift should operate a last round trip, according to French diplomacy.

The France is also expected to help, by sea, by sending its frigate Lorraine to the coastal city of Port Sudan. 500 passengers of various nationalities will be able to cross the Red Sea to reach Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

'The violence must stop'

As evacuation operations ramp up, fighting intensifies. The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs still stands at nearly 430 dead and 3,700 injured. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN, again shared his fears on Monday, April 24, of a destabilization of the region, and called for a new ceasefire.

The violence must stop. It poses a risk of conflagration in Sudan that could invade the entire region and beyond, "warned Antonio Guterres, before the UN Security Council whose members he asked "to use all their influence" with the actors of the conflict.

He assured that the UN was not leaving Sudan. His envoy, Volker Perthes, remains on the spot, Antonio Guterres announced before indicating on Monday 24 April that the United Nations operations have been temporarily moved to Port Sudan.

The UN chief also condemned the indiscriminate bombing of civilians and said he was in contact with Generals Al-Burhan and Hemeti and recalled that he was working in coordination with the African Union, the Arab League and the European Union to promote de-escalation.

The United Kingdom has meanwhile requested an emergency meeting of the Security Council on the Sudanese issue to be held on Tuesday 25 April. This body is currently chaired by Russia and precisely, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, denounced, on Monday, the presence and the role of the Wagner group, during a joint press conference with his Kenyan counterpart who criticized the role played by some countries in the Middle East. "This is not the time to side with one side or the other," Mutua said.

The humanitarian situation, meanwhile, is worrying. The International Red Cross recalls that 70% of hospitals in Khartoum are no longer functioning. Many civilians no longer have access to clean water and electricity, and the spectre of food shortages looms as shelling and crossfire continues.

► Read alsoSudan: African countries launch in turn repatriation operations on the tenth day of fighting

Sudan: first assessment of the evacuation of the France

Sudan: first assessment of the evacuation of the France

'The violence must stop'

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