Evacs widen from outside Khartoum

Evacs widen from outside Khartoum

 

 The U.S. has begun evacuating private American citizens who want to leave war torn Sudan, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters Monday in Washington. Some of those 16,000 citizens believed to still be in Sudan have already begun evacuating out of the coastal city of Port Sudan, to the northeast, as U.S. Navy ships in the region are rerouting for possible contingency use.

"We have deployed U.S. intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets to support land evacuation routes, which Americans are using," Sullivan said Monday. "Once at the Port then, we are using diplomatic facilities in neighboring countries to help those Americans with their onward travel so that they can get safely out of the country," he said, and added, "We remain available to any American in Sudan who is looking for support and guidance from the U.S."
  still missing
The Brits announced similar measures for departures via an airport just outside of Khartoum on Tuesday as well. "Flights will be open to those with British passports and priority will be given to family groups with children and/or the elderly or individuals with medical conditions," the UK Defense Ministry said Tuesday, and stressed, "British nationals should not make their way to the airfield unless they are called."

Several nations are looking to capitalize on a 72-hour ceasefire announced Monday evening by U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken. "To support a durable end to the fighting, the United States will coordinate with regional and international partners, and Sudanese civilian stakeholders, to assist in the creation of a committee to oversee the negotiation, conclusion, and implementation of a permanent cessation of hostilities and humanitarian arrangements in Sudan," Blinken said in his statement.

    The BBC notes this is the fourth ceasefire that's been brokered between the two warring factions, which began fighting 10 days ago.

Latest from the capital city: "Gunfire and fighter jets were heard in Khartoum on Tuesday morning despite the ceasefire, but fighting seemed to be relatively calmer than Monday," CNN reported Tuesday.

More than 450 people are believed to have been killed so far, according to Sudan's health ministry. CBS News reported Tuesday "the actual number of dead is believed to be significantly higher."