Downing Street has said that there is around 2,000 Brits trapped in war torn Sudan, but Alicia Kearns has warned that it is estimated there could be between 3,000 and 4,000 stuck who are suffering harrowing ordeals.
Two factions in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum are in intense fighting and hundreds have been killed since the weekend as the leaders are both vying for control of country.
The internal battle for control over Sudan between two rival Generals has led to many being killed in the conflict between the Sudanese army and the more powerful paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces.
Many foreign diplomats and aid workers have already been killed, injured or even assaulted in unprovoked attacks by Sudanese militia.
The US has an estimated 16,000 American citizens in Sudan, however there could be even more as the law in Sudan does not require them to register at the Embassy.
Kirby says he as no idea about the welfare of remaining Americans is Sudan.
This Regime is criminal. pic.twitter.com/8zj4TfkvUx
— Spitfire (@DogRightGirl) April 24, 2023
Kearns, Tory chairwoman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, warned “there is no imminent sign of a ceasefire” after Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Commons Defence Committee said the government needs to arrange a 12 hour ceasefire.
The senior Tory MP told the BBC’s World At One programme, “We must use our influence to speak to both sides, making it very clear that there needs to be a 12-hour ceasefire so we can get our people out.”
Kearns estimated that there could be bewteen “3,000, 4,000 plus” British nationals who are stranded in Sudan, who will be in “abject fear,” following reports of some people killing their pets “because they’re worried they’re going to starve.”
She told Today, “The reality is we have to get British nationals out.
“If, however, there was to be no evacuation because it’s too dangerous, then we have a moral obligation to tell British nationals as soon as possible that that is the judgment that has been made, because they then need to be able to make their own decisions.”
SUDAN: The Biden administration evacuated US embassy personnel but are leaving the 16,000 Americans behind.
Look at what they’re up against if they try to escape.#sudan #war pic.twitter.com/FUnZcdLCzd
— The Tank (@RickTheTank) April 24, 2023
She said it was put to her that a person claimed to have received two computer generated text messaged informing him to remain inside.
Kearns said: “So that would suggest that no lessons have been learned since Afghanistan, and I have urged the government to make sure they are communicating regularly with British nationals.”
Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman said he “wouldn’t accept that,” adding “significant lessons” were learned from the evacuation from Kabul.
William who is a British citizen in Sudan, told the BBC he was forced to “go private” in order to leave Khartoum on a bus arranged by his Sudanese employer, this was because “we’ve had absolutely nothing but nonsense from the Government.”
Iman Abugarga, a British woman who has been sheltering in Khartoum, told the Telegraph, she feels “absolutely” abandoned by the British Government.
“It is shameful how they have mismanaged this situation.”
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