Final UK evacuation flights from Sudan take off as airlift bid comes to close

THE UK’s last evacuation flights have left Sudan, the Government has said.

Two final aircraft took off from Port Sudan on Wednesday night and in the early hours of yesterday morning, local time, heading for Cyprus.

Evacuation flights had been due to end last Monday before the extra planes were announced.

The Foreign Office said there would be no further extensions.

On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said 2,341 people had left on 28 flights.

Some 1,195 were British nationals, with others including their Sudanese dependants also helped to leave.

Mr Cleverly tweeted: “We’ve coordinated the largest evacuation of any Western country.

“But the hard work in Sudan has not finished.”

Sudan has descended into chaos and violence amid a power struggle within the country’s military leadership.

United Nations under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs Martin Griffiths arrived in Port Sudan on Wednesday, seeking guarantee for safe passage of aid deliveries.

He said: “It’s not as if we’re asking for the moon.

“We’re asking for the movement of humanitarian supplies and people.

“We do this in every other country, even without ceasefires.”