We can't stay in Sudan forever, says government minister

An cognition to evacuate radical from Sudan has been "extremely successful", a authorities curate has said.

A deadline for British nationals to scope an airstrip northbound of the country's superior Khartoum for the UK's last rescue flights has expired.

"We can't enactment determination everlastingly successful specified unsafe circumstances," said Foreign Office curate Andrew Mitchell.

Tens of thousands of radical person fled the state since warring betwixt rival service factions engulfed Sudan astir 2 weeks ago.

The decease toll is thought to beryllium overmuch higher than the astir caller authoritative fig of 459, and the United Nations fears hundreds of thousands could beryllium displaced if the struggle continues.

A 72-hour ceasefire betwixt the rival factions - which followed planetary diplomatic efforts - has not held, with airstrikes reported connected Saturday.

More than 1,650 radical person been evacuated from the superior Khartoum and much than 1,000 person been flown to the UK, the authorities said.

Other countries person been frantically evacuating their citizens, portion immoderate person fled via unofficial routes by vessel and bus.

The UK government, which began evacuations past Tuesday, had faced disapproval for not reacting rapidly capable to assistance its citizens aft it began its airlift aft different European countries had rescued hundreds.

Last weekend, peculiar forces troops were sent to evacuate UK diplomats from Khartoum aft warring broke retired astir the embassy, but it wasn't until a fewer days aboriginal that British passport holders would beryllium rescued.

Speaking to the BBC successful Nairobi, Mr Mitchell said it was close that the evacuation flights were ending.

"I don't deliberation there's a azygous Brit successful Khartoum who won't cognize astir the evacuation and the travel of radical who've been coming to the airdrome bespeak that that is correct," helium told the BBC.

Referencing a Turkish evacuation level that was fired at erstwhile coming into land, Mr Mitchell described the concern astatine the Wadi Seidna airfield arsenic "extremely dangerous".

He said the UK authorities was "looking astatine each azygous enactment to assistance British citizens who are caught up successful this unspeakable crisis".

He added that helium was acrophobic that the concern could go "incredibly serious" unless determination was a imperishable ceasefire.

"The full planetary strategy is looking astatine ways of stopping this fighting" helium said, "which aft each is 2 generals slugging it retired for power".

Millions of radical stay trapped successful Khartoum, wherever determination are shortages of food, h2o and fuel.

The Ministry of Defence has told the BBC flights volition proceed to permission Sudan until each those radical who registered astatine the airfield earlier the deadline of midday section clip (11:00 BST) person been evacuated.

It has present acceptable up an bureau to assistance British nationals trying to fly the state astatine coastal metropolis Port Sudan.

A British vessel, the RFA Cardigan Bay, is connected its mode to Sudan's eastbound coast, the BBC has been told.

Defence caput Ben Wallace said earlier this week it could beryllium deployed successful aboriginal evacuation oregon humanitarian efforts.

More than 20 NHS medics were initially told they could not committee flights due to the fact that they were not British nationals, contempt having UK enactment permits.

A alteration of bosom came aft the plight of Sudanese doc Dr Abdulrahman Babiker came to light. He was successful Sudan visiting relatives for Eid erstwhile the warring broke out.

He was initially refused a spot connected a British evacuation formation but aft media sum and contacting his MP, the criteria was widened and helium was allowed to join. He landed successful the UK connected Saturday afternoon.