Iraq Evacuates 429 from Sudan

Iraq announced the evacuation of 429 citizens from Sudan, sending a message of thanks to those who contributed to the evacuation process.

This came in a statement issued by the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, today, Saturday, according to the official Iraqi News Agency.

The statement explained that the evacuation process took place using "three planes, the first on 4/27/2023, with two planes, and the second on 5/12/2023, with one plane."

The foreign ministry expressed its thanks to all parties that contributed to this national action, beginning with the National Intelligence Service, which supervised through a specialized team the rescue of the diplomatic staff of the Iraqi Embassy in Khartoum, and the evacuation of their families.

This comes in the wake of the announcement that the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces signed, last Thursday, the "Jeddah Declaration" to protect civilians affected by the armed conflict, which has been going on since mid-April.

The agreement focused on evacuating hospitals and service facilities from the military forces, opening safe paths for the exit of civilians from conflict areas, and bringing humanitarian aid to the capital and conflict-affected areas.

The continuous battles between the army and the Rapid Support Forces prompted many countries to intensify their efforts to evacuate their nationals or members of diplomatic missions, by land, sea, and air.

Since April 15, violent and large-scale clashes have been taking place between the Sudanese army forces and the Rapid Support Forces, in separate areas of Sudan, most of which are concentrated in the capital, Khartoum.