Elation and fear for those left behind as Saudi Arabia rescues 1,700 foreign citizens

Countries around the world continue efforts to rescue civilians with cargo planes, helicopters and ships

A baby is cradled by a Saudi Navy servicewoman as evacuees arrive at King Faisal Navy Base in Jeddah. AFP

Saudi Navy personnel help a woman being evacuated from Sudan. Reuters

A boat with 1,687 civilians from more than 50 countries fleeing violence in Sudan arrives in Jeddah. AFP

Members of the Saudi Navy assist evacuees. AFP

The rescue followed a US-brokered ceasefire between the country's warring generals. AFP

Tears on arrival in Jeddah following the rescue operation. AFP

Foreign Ministry director general Mazen Al Hamli welcomes evacuees. AFP

Civilians of different nationalities arrive at Jeddah Sea Port. Reuters

Saudi Navy personnel help civilians. Reuters

A baby is among evacuees arriving at King Faisal Navy Base in Jeddah. AFP

Saudi Navy personnel assist a child being evacuated by Saudi Arabia from Sudan to escape the conflicts, at Jeddah Sea Port, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 26, 2023. Saudi Ministry of Defense / Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY

Evacuees from Sudan's civil conflict have told of their relief and their fears for those left behind as they arrived in Jeddah on Wednesday, as part of a Saudi rescue of 1,700 people.

A ship from the Port of Sudan arrived in the kingdom carrying people of over 65 nationalities to safety.

The vast majority of those fleeing the conflict were foreigners. The evacuation was one of the largest from Sudan so far, as governments around the world step up efforts to save their stranded citizens.

The latest rescue takes the total brought to Saudi Arabia above 2,000.

I had the chance to leave, not like my sisters. I don't know whether they will be able to get out

Moustafa,
evacuee

“We all arrived safely at around 2am,” Bhupendra, one of 278 Indians who arrived on naval warship in Jeddah, told The National.

“The Indian and Saudi staff welcomed us and provided us breakfast. Then our immigration was completed and they sent us to a school, where they have arranged a stay for all Indians. Wi-Fi is also available here, at least people can contact their family.”

Bhupendra and his cohort will have a brief stay at the International Indian School in Jeddah, which has been converted to house those evacuated, before being flown to India in military planes.

They are joined by 256 people flown in on Indian Air Force aircraft from Port Sudan, about 800km from the capital Khartoum, to Jeddah.

Others fretted over those left behind.

The UN says the death toll in the conflict between two warring armies has exceeded 500, and the WHO is warning of "many more" deaths from disease and lack of medical services.

"On top of the number of deaths and injuries caused by the conflict itself, the WHO expects there will be many more deaths due to outbreaks, lack of access to food and water and disruption to essential health services, including immunisation," WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

Dr Tedros added that only 16 per cent of health facilities were functioning in the Sudanese capital.

A tearful Moustafa, who holds a US passport, said "I had the chance to leave, not like my sisters", as he disembarked a commercial ship in Jeddah.

"I don't know whether they will be able to get out," he told AFP.

Saudi Navy personnel assist a child at Jeddah Sea Port. Photo: Saudi Ministry of Defence

However, the rescue also brought pride at a job well done, with hundreds now out of harm's way.

"I am Saudi holding the greatest passport in the world thanks to God," one man told the Saudi Press Agency as he disembarked, waving his green passport.

"This passport today is a matter of pride. As you can see all the nations are represented on this vessel, which makes me very proud. If you are Saudi you will never be left behind with this government behind you. Our government made us proud."

Khartoum and nearby towns such as Omdurman have been the scene of nearly unrelenting violence, despite several foreign-mediated attempts at securing a lasting ceasefire.

Forces loyal to army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan are pitted against those backing his deputy-turned-rival Gen Mohamed Dagalo, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

“In continuation of the evacuation efforts made by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the directives of the kingdom’s leadership, several evacuees arrived from the Republic of Sudan to the city of Jeddah today,” a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

That number “included 13 Saudi citizens and 1,674 [other] individuals”, the statement said.

The operation brings the total number of people evacuated from Sudan by Saudi Arabia to 2,148, including 114 Saudis and more than 2,000 others of 62 nationalities, the ministry said.

The kingdom has joined the US, Germany, the UK, France and the Netherlands, alongside the regional countries of Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Iraq, in sending military cargo planes to rescue citizens.

One of the largest contingents of people evacuated by Saudi authorities were from Indonesia, whose Foreign Ministry confirmed that 550 citizens had been rescued.

Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry said 13 of its citizens had arrived in Jeddah and another 12 were awaiting evacuation in Port Sudan.

The Saudi state-affiliated Al Ekhbariya channel broadcast footage of passengers waving the green Saudi flag as they disembarked, as well as pictures of Saudi security forces carrying babies off the ship.

In one clip, an evacuee hugs members of the Saudi military, thanking them through tears as he exits one of the ships in Jeddah. In another, a woman remarks: "I am coming to Saudi Arabia ... congratulations to me, congratulations to me."

Evacuees began arriving in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, with boats carrying 150 people including foreign diplomats and officials.

On Monday, a C-130 Hercules military plane flew dozens of South Korean civilians to Jeddah's King Abdullah Air Base, and a boat ferried about 200 people from 14 countries across the Red Sea from Port Sudan.