Sudan Crisis: Chaos At Port As Thousands Rush To Leave

In the dead of night, as HMS Al Diriyah approached Sudan's coast, Saudi officers flicked on sweeping search lights to secure safe passage for their warship into a harbour rapidly transforming into a major evacuation and humanitarian hub in Sudan's deepening crisis. Even at 2am two other hulking vessels were also anchored offshore at Port Sudan, its largest port, waiting their turn in this international rescue effort. I feel so relieved but also so sad to be part of this history, Hassan Faraz from Pakistan said, visibly shaken. 

The fighting which raged in recent weeks, amidst very imperfect and partial ceasefires, is a pitched battle for power between the Sudanese army led by Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group headed by Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti. Port Sudan has fared relatively better in this war. Many people are now sleeping rough on the streets as they wait for a way out. Local hotels are swamped by people with passports from the world over, along with emergency consular services hastily established by embassies who have evacuated most of their staff from the capital. Many fear there is no way out.

Port Sudan is packed with people who have less lucky passports, including Yemenis, Syrians and Sudanese. Some 3,000 Yemenis, mainly students, have been stuck for weeks in Port Sudan. The Saudis are rescuing some Yemenis but they're nervous about accepting large numbers, admitted a security adviser trying to help them find a way back to their own war-torn country. Many passengers arriving in the Saudi kingdom are provided with a short hotel stay. But it's made clear that their own countries are expected to soon pick up the bill and arrange onward travel.