The federal government has expressed worry over the fate of Nigerians stranded in crisis-ravaged Sudan.
This is even as efforts are being made to rescue them from the desperate situation in Sudan.
Speaking at a joint press briefing on the crisis in Abuja yesterday, the minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and his counterpart in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouk, expressed concern over the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan.
The ministers who issued a joint statement through the permanent secretary in the Office of the minister of Foreign Affairs, Janet Olisa, and the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, said the government empathises with the entire civilian population in the country, including the Nigerian students, and other members of the Nigerian community caught up in the on-going crisis between the Sudanese Army and the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The ministers noted with concern that some of these students are trying to find their way to contiguous borders of either Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia or Chad on their own.
“In line with the directive of the President Muhammadu Buhari, the Humanitarian Sector comprising FMHADMSD, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI)) is working very closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian Missions in the countries bordering Sudan, as well as with other relevant stakeholders especially the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigerian Armed Forces, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and International Humanitarian Organizations such as International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to immediately evacuate these Students and other affected Nigerian citizens,” the statement said.
The ministers, therefore, urged parents to advise their wards that while concerted efforts are being made to evacuate them, the students should endeavour to remain calm and maintain constant communication with officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan for instructions and updates.
According to the joint statement, stranded Nigerians can reach the embassy officials on the following telephone numbers: +2348035866773, +249961956284, +2348063636862, +249961956274, +2349066663493.
They are also advised to guard against undertaking the treacherous journey to the borders on their own, in view of the dangers involved.
On this note, the ministers assured that concrete plans are underway to deploy, very shortly, air transport to evacuate all stranded Nigerian citizens through the identified safe transit areas back home to Nigeria in safety and dignity.
The crisis in Sudan has led to the death of over 500 people, with 4000 injured in over one week of clashes.
Although the warring factions have announced another Ceasefire for 72 hours, tens of thousands have also been displaced as countries make haste to evacuate their citizens and diplomats from the beleaguered country.
The government asked Nigerians trapped in Sudan to avoid dangerous trips to the borders in a bid to escape the country.
More so, the federal government also urged parents to advise their wards that while concerted efforts are being made to evacuate them, they should endeavour to remain calm and maintain constant communication with officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan.
The ministries expressed concern over the “dire humanitarian situation” in Sudan and empathised with the civilian population caught up in the ongoing crisis between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
“The ministers, therefore, urge parents to advise their wards that while concerted efforts are being made to evacuate them, the students should endeavour to remain calm and maintain constant communication with officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan for instructions and updates,” the statement reads.
The ministries of foreign affairs and humanitarian affairs also assured that concrete plans are underway, to deploy, very shortly, air transport to evacuate all stranded Nigerian citizens through the identified safe transit areas back home to Nigeria in safety and dignity.
FG Provides Buses To Evacuate Stranded Nigerian Students
Meanwhile, the federal government has reportedly provided buses at the meeting point of International University Of Africa, Khartoum, for the evacuation of the stranded Nigerian students in the crisis-ravagee Sudan through Cairo, Egypt.
A set of five 200-seater buses were said to have driven into the venue at exactly 7:30pm local time (5:30pm – Nigerian time), with two Hilux trucks of security personnel and a small bus of embassy officials.
However, this report has not been confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as of yesterday evening.
Spokesperson of the Ministry, Francisca Omayuli, hinted that the government and relevant agencies were making arrangements and will release statement about the evacuation process.
However, a student leader who reportedly spoke with an online paper confirmed the development, saying officials have started clearance and verification of students at the venue and some students are ready to board.
“We are discussing giving out 60 per cent of the first available seats to the female students and children while the male students take up the remaining 40 per cent.
“We are told that more buses are coming and the officials also brought some snacks and water too. On this note, we wish to sincerely thank them for this gesture and their efforts toward ensuring that we returned home safe”, the student stated.
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