For the first time, a group of Dutch people has been evacuated from Sudan, where various groups are currently fighting for power. This was announced by Minister of Foreign Affairs Wopke Hoekstra (CDA) on Sunday afternoon, ANP news agency reports. The Dutch traveled on a French plane with a total of nearly 100 people, a diplomatic source told AFP news agency.
According to that source, 100 foreigners from Sudan will later be expelled. Early on Sunday, the Netherlands announced that it would start the evacuation. The United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France, among others, are also removing their compatriots from the African country. The evacuees will initially be transferred to Jordan.
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Cooperation with Germany and France
Hoekstra says he hopes that more Dutch people can be brought to Jordan later tonight. Dutch aircraft may also be used for this. It is not known exactly how many Dutch people were in the French aircraft, according to Hoekstra it is “a handful”. The operation is being carried out in cooperation with Germany and France. In total, more than 150 Dutch nationals and local diplomatic personnel and their family members have indicated that they want to be expelled from Sudan.
At least 420 people, more than half of them civilians, have been killed in fighting between government troops and the militia Rapid Support Force. Thousands of people have already fled. Tens of thousands of people are without electricity and running water.