In the early hours of Thursday morning the last Royal Air Force aircraft lifted off from Port Sudan International Airport, destined for Cyprus carrying the last civilians to be flown by the RAF from Sudan.
The passengers aboard the C-130J Hercules from 47 Squadron were people who have been making their way to the UK Emergency Handling Centre in Port Sudan steadily over the last week. From here they have returned to the UK via Cyprus on Royal Air Force aircraft.
“We have been flying back and forth to Sudan for the past week, helping British nationals return to the UK or place of safety. It is one of the many roles we are trained to do.”
Pilot, 47 Squadron
Personnel from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, Home Office, and Border Force have been based at Port Sudan to process people and enable safe onward travel. They have been assisted by the military who have provided support in the form of planning, logistics, and medical expertise.
A UK-based doctor who was visiting his family for Eid celebrations said; “We all get together during Eid, it is an important family time. I have never experienced anything like this in my life, it is like nothing else…everyone has been through a lot, it has been really comforting to see the UK presence here, I am very grateful.”
The small military contingent in Port Sudan has comprised of personnel from the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
