Dirco still working hard to evacuate citizens from Sudan

The department of international relations and co-operation (Dirco) has confirmed that the government organised and paid for two buses to evacuate people from war-torn Sudan.

The department said on Wednesday it was still working hard to ensure that South African citizens and those from Sadc and other countries were evacuated safely.

“We are grateful that Gift of the Givers organised and procured another bus to pick up some more South Africans and other nationals who missed the first two buses.

“We are particularly grateful that Gift of the Givers was able to accommodate our request to include the nationals of other countries who had requested support from the South African government at a time when our two buses had already departed. This was not an easy task,” said Dirco's head of public diplomacy Clayson Monyela.

Monyela said officials stayed on in the danger zone.

He said facilitating travel passes for those who had left without passports delayed entry into Egypt and other countries.

“We are also grateful for the co-operation of the foreign ministries of Egypt and Saudi Arabia who are working with us to ensure entry of people without the necessary papers for normal and regular entry into their countries.

“Despite Gift of the Givers not being physically in Sudan, they were able to share information with Dirco officials in Pretoria, and they were, in turn, kept abreast of developments by South African government personnel on the ground,” he said.

Monyelsa said evacuations like these depended on collaboration and partnerships.

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