Evacuations from Sudan can continue "even if the ceasefire is broken"

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Air evacuations from Sudan can continue even if a fragile ceasefire is broken, military leaders said on Wednesday, as the first flight carrying British nationals is arrived in Britain.

The commander in charge of the operation also said that it was possible to rescue those who had not been able to reach the Wadi Saeedna airstrip because of the fights. their dependents are being evacuated – potentially leaving around 70 NHS doctors stranded because they only hold UK visas.

Just over 300 people have been airlifted so far - across four flights - during a 72-hour break in fighting between forces loyal to rival generals.

The first plane carrying British nationals evacuated from Sudan landed at Stansted Airport from Larnaca, Cyprus at 2.30pm. Some of the passengers were children.

It was hoped that a total of eight flights carrying British citizens would take off by the end of Wednesday as the government rushes to rescue stranded civilians.

Brigadier Dan Reeve, chief of operations for the British joint force, said up to 500 people a day can be airlifted from Wadi Saeedna, an airfield just north of Khartoum, with transport aircraft available to increase this number if necessary.

He stressed that the end of the current ceasefire would not necessarily stop the mission.

“The ceasefire -fire itself was not a condition for us to launch this operation, although it did help and was a useful window,” said Brigadier Reeve.

“We are well positioned to continue this operation for as long as necessary. I see no reason at the moment why we cannot continue to do this for as long as the Prime Minister wishes,” he added.

He also confirmed that there were now around 160 troops on the ground at the airfield. “That number can increase if I wanted to. I am very confident that I have all the troops I need on standby,” he said.

For those unable to get to the airstrip on their own, he said, there are "other options" that can be considered.

But while forces personnel are evacuating British nationals, that does not include around 70 NHS doctors who are on British visas, the British Medical Association has said.

< p>Dr Latifa Patel of the BMA called on the government 'to ensure that these doctors, who are invaluable to the UK health service, can get to safety'.

"The situation in Sudan is fluid and as such we do not know the exact numbers, but our colleagues at the Sudanese Association of Young Doctors...