LONDON: A team of troops from the UK arrived at Port Sudan on Monday on a reconnaissance mission, media reported on Monday.
The flight comes as the UK government assessed options for an evacuation of British nationals stranded in the crisis-hit country, Sky News said.
The C-17 Globemaster was on the ground at the eastern Sudanese port on the Red Sea along with troops who “may form part of a second rescue,” the channel reported.
It comes after the government was criticized for its evacuation on Sunday of British diplomats from Khartoum, but not other UK nationals.
Alicia Kearns, chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said on Sunday that 3,000 to 4,000 British nationals were still in Sudan, with “well over 1,000” asking for help in order to leave the country.
James Heappey, the armed forces minister, said in a briefing that the UK recognized “the job isn’t done” when it came to rescuing those still stranded, The Guardian reported.
He added that government plans were continuing “at pace” and that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak would be given options to help Britons trapped in Sudan “as and when they arise.”
The UK development minister, Andrew Mitchell, said on Monday morning that he was unable to give a timeline for a possible rescue of British nationals.
“The situation is absolutely desperate and a ceasefire is required,” he said. “The only advice that Britain can give to people is to stay indoors because that is the safe option.”
