Over 40 Sri Lankans awaiting evacuation from Sudan

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan mission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia noted that over 40 Sri Lankans continue to remain in war-torn Sudan.

Ambassador P.M. Amza told News 1st that the Sri Lankan Embassy is working closely with the Saudi Government to safely evacuate the Sri Lankans from Sudan.

As of this 26th April 2023, thirteen (13) Sri Lankans who were evacuated with the assistance of the Saudi Government were received in Jeddah by Sri Lanka’s Acting Consul General. 

Ambassador P.M. Amza told News 1st that the group will be sent to Sri Lanka on Friday (28).

Twelve (12) more Sri Lankans are in Port Sudan awaiting evacuation, said the Foreign Ministry.

Ambassador P.M. Amza told News 1st that Indian Government support was also sought to evacuate Sri Lankans from Sudan.

According to Al-Jazeera, the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have agreed to extend their ceasefire amid ongoing violence in the capital Khartoum and the western Darfur region.

At least 512 people have been killed and close to 4,200 wounded since the intensified fighting began on April 15. The violence has spread to the vast Darfur region, where conflict had simmered ever since civil war erupted two decades ago.

At least 20,000 people have escaped into Chad, 4,000 into South Sudan, 3,500 into Ethiopia and 3,000 into the Central African Republic, according to the UN, which has warned as many as 270,000 people could flee if the fighting continues.