Air evacuations from Sudan can continue even if a fragile ceasefire breaks, military chiefs said on Wednesday, as the first flight carrying British nationals arrived back in Britain.
The commander in charge of the operation also said there was the capability to rescue those who were unable to reach the Wadi Saeedna airstrip because of the fighting.
It came as No 10 confirmed that only British passport holders and 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 out so far – on four flights – during a 72-hour pause in fighting between forces loyal to rival generals.
The first plane carrying UK 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 be airborne by the end of Wednesday, as the government races to rescue stranded civilians.
Brigadier Dan Reeve, Britain’s chief of joint force operations, said that up to 500 people a day can be flown out of Wadi Saeedna, an airfield just north of Khartoum, with transport planes available to increase that number if necessary.
He stressed that an end to the current ceasefire would not necessarily halt the mission.
“The ceasefire itself was not a condition for us launching this operation, although of course it helped and was a useful window,” said Brigadier Reeve.
“We are well set to continue this operation for as long as we need to. I can see no reason at the moment why we can’t continue to do that for as long as the prime minister wants us to,” he added.
He also confirmed that there were now around 160 troops on the ground at the airfield. “That number can grow if I wanted it to. I’m very confident I’ve got all the troops I need on standby,” he said.
For individuals unable to make it to the airstrip themselves, he said, there are “other options” that can be considered.
But while forces personnel are evacuating British nationals, these do not include around 70 NHS doctors who are UK visa-holders, the British Medical Association said.
Dr Latifa Patel, from the BMA, called on the government “to ensure that these doctors, who are invaluable to the UK’s health service, are able to get to safety”.
“The situation in Sudan is fluid and as such we do not know exact numbers, but our colleagues at the Sudanese Junior Doctors Association UK estimate that approximately 74 NHS doctors are trapped in Sudan. The government has a duty of care to ensure the safety of these NHS doctors, who work hard to care for patients in the UK – NHS doctors who are not British passport holders must not be left behind.”
A spokesperson for No 10 said the government was keeping the criteria “under review” and that there was an “element of discretion” open to those on the ground.
The ceasefire has largely held since it began in the early hours of Monday.
