The State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson, Vedant Patel has said that the Government have facilitated the departure of about 1,000 U.S. citizens from Sudan since the start of the violence on April 14, 2023.
Patel who disclosed this during a briefing on Monday, stated that this effort has included intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance overwatch, close coordination with partner nations on flights and convoys.
He said it’s also include a sustained diplomatic and messaging effort to approximately 5,000 U.S. citizens who have sought Goverment guidance.
Patel urged those among these citizens who have sought assistance to depart, “we are working tirelessly and around the clock to ensure those who have sought our assistance in Sudan that they are aware of all options for evacuation”.
He revealed that more than 200 U.S. government officials have been working around the clock since the start crisis, 24/7 to coordinate these efforts with allies and partners to facilitate safe departure of U.S. citizens.
“Officials within our task force – which comprises interagency experts focused on coordinating logistics, consular, diplomatic, and assistance efforts – are also working around the clock with stakeholders across the U.S. Government”.
The Deputy Spokesperson said further that three government- facilitated convoys successfully enabled citizens, their immediate family members, nationals from allied and partner countries to arrive safely in Port Sudan on April 29th, April 30th, and May 1st.
Adding that these convoys have assisted over 700 individuals. “We unfortunately don’t have a further breakdown at this moment.
“From there, we have been assisting U.S. citizens and others who are eligible with onward travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where additional U.S. personnel are positioned to assist with consular and emergency services.
“This successful operation would not have been possible without the dedication and bravery of our locally employed staff who facilitated the movements from Khartoum during an arduous overland journey to Port Sudan.
“We salute their commitment and applaud their courage. This builds on the U.S. government’s efforts to assist departure of our diplomats, private U.S. citizens, and Lawful Permanent Residents by land convoys, flights on partner aircraft, and by sea”, he said.
Patel recalled that since April 24th, Govt have moved State Department personnel from Washington, D.C. and overseas missions including, among others, to Djibouti, Jeddah, Nicosia, and Nairobi to assist citizens departing Sudan.
“Additionally, U.S. consular officers are on hand in Port Sudan to provide consular assistance to U.S. citizens. I will note the security environment is dynamic, and the positioning of our personnel in Port Sudan may be subject to change.
“Task force personnel here in D.C. and those supporting U.S. citizens departing Sudan at posts in the region have worked more than 1,200 collective hours based on initial conservative estimates”, he explained.
He noted that there’s continuous options available on commercial vessels traveling from Port Sudan to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“For departure from Port Sudan to a neighboring location, US officials stand ready to provide consular assistance to US citizens upon arrival to neighboring countries.
“U.S. citizens who were not able to take advantage of the several convoy opportunities should reach out to us using the crisis intake form on our website if they have not done so.
“We will continue to inform our citizens of departure options that may make sense or work for them – including by land, air, and sea – including options facilitated by partner nations”, he said.
The Spokesman reiterated US calling on Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to end the fighting that is endangering all civilians.
He said, “Intensive negotiations by the US with support of our regional and international partners enabled the security conditions that have allowed the departure of thousands of foreign and U.S. citizens”.