Irish government ceases emergency civil assistance response in Sudan
Irish government ceases emergency civil assistance response in Sudan. (Picture: PA)
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed it will be ceasing their emergency civil assistance response amid the successful evacuation of 209 citizens and their dependents.
In a statement issued on Sunday afterrnoon, the DFA said that "in line with changed operational requirements since the ending of flights from Sudan into Cyprus, the ECAT (Emergency Civil Assistance Team) Element of our consular response will conclude today - April 30."
A total of 209 citizens and dependents have been successfully evacuated from the current crisis in Sudan. The majority of those were carried on flights operated by the UK into Cyprus.
"The Government is grateful for the support of the UK and the Republic of Cyprus during this period," the statement read.
It also said that the ECAT mission will withdraw from Cyprus, which has been based there since Thursday April 27.
"The mission involved Defence Forces personnel, in support of Department of Foreign Affairs officials, to assist with the process of evacuating Irish citizens and their dependents from the crisis in Sudan. In line with changed operational requirements since the ending of flights from Sudan into Cyprus, the ECAT element of our consular response will conclude today – 30 April," the statement added.
The Tánaiste, Micheál Martin said: “I wish to thank the ECAT team and all those involved in our consular response.
"Our primary aim has been to offer our citizens every assistance through what has been an extremely difficult and challenging time.
"Our experienced consular teams in Dublin and in the region will continue to actively respond to the needs of our citizens as the situation evolves."
Sudan has gone into its 16th day of fighting, killing more than 500 people and injuring nearly 4,600 people, despite a ceasefire in place.
Satellite images from the area show long convoys at the Egyptian border as civilians flee the violence. The UN has said that at least 20,000 people have fled to Chad, 4,000 into South Sudan, 3,500 to Ethiopia and 3,000 to the Central African Republic.
Meanwhile, the aid agency GOAL have said that "thousands of Sudanese are struggling under scorching heat and unbearable conditions."
HR Coordinator for Goal Sudan, Sara Bashir Mohammed said: "The journey across the border has become impossible with lack of water, food, and basic facilities.At this point, most of my colleagues from our office in Khartoum, with the assistance of our GOAL HQ in Dublin where possible, have fled the city, for other states in Sudan, to seek refuge. My family is not planning to make the four-day trip to try and get over the border into Egypt.
"We have heard of elderly dying from dehydration whilst waiting at the border. Travelling to other States is a viable option for many once a mode of transport is guaranteed but then with increasing pressure of thousands fleeing the capital, accommodation has become an issue. We are just going to hold on and see what happens and I will continue to support my colleagues, in whatever way I can. That is the essence of Sudanese who come together in times of crisis to aid in any way possible."
GOAL have said they will continue to deliver life-saving aid in Sudan by supporting 17 healthcare clinics in North Darfur and 30 in South Kordofan, where they are still operational and have been provided with at least one month's worth of drug stock.
However, a spokesperson said that "if the situation continues to deteriorate, it is possible that the agency will not be able to continue delivering services without the establishment of a safe humanitarian corridor in each region."
