The Netherlands is sending two transport planes to Jordan so that the Dutch can be quickly evacuated from Sudan when necessary and possible. This was announced yesterday evening by Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra. “From Jordan you can fly to Khartoum in a few hours, pick up people and come back,” says former army commander Mart de Kruif.
Foreign Minister Hoekstra said in an interview that the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense are sending a so-called Rapid Consular Support Team to Jordan. Jordan was chosen because Sudan is too dangerous and Jordan is within range of the aircraft, “so you can safely wait there until you are deployed.”
No options
According to De Kruif, flying to Khartoum International Airport is not an option now that there is still fighting. He points out how vulnerable planes are, especially during landing and takeoff. According to the former commander, even a coordinated evacuation by land is not an option that can be organized by a government, even though there are individual cases of expatriates who have left the capital by land. “But the airport itself is one of the targets being fought over by both sides, so you can’t land without a ceasefire.”
“A ceasefire is often used to move troops”
Yesterday, another ceasefire was declared between the two warring sides. Hostilities are unlikely to end with this. “What you often see is that a ceasefire is used at such a stage of a conflict to move troops, but it’s usually not the end of a fight.”
De Kruif thinks fighting will continue as long as neither side is in control of critical infrastructure such as government buildings, airports and television stations.
Flow of refugees
In Khartoum there is fighting for the sixth consecutive day, now that the second ceasefire attempt has also failed. Nearly 300 people have been killed in the past five days, according to the United Nations health agency. Thousands of people have fled Khartoum for safety. Neighboring Chad notes that more and more refugees are crossing the border, including military personnel. The Chadian defense minister confirmed that 320 Sudanese soldiers were stopped and disarmed as they entered the country on Monday. Chad closed its border with Sudan on Saturday when fighting broke out.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
