KHARTOUM, Sudan – A family of seven fleeing the violence in Sudan has found themselves among thousands stuck at the border with Egypt, as bus drivers demand exorbitant fees for transport across.
The family, most of whom hold British nationality, are appealing to the UK authorities for help.
Fadi Atabani, 53, told the BBC on Friday, April 28, 2023, that they had escaped the fighting in Khartoum two days ago and were now trapped in the border town of Wadi Halfa.
“There are thousands of people here. There is no accommodation. People are sleeping in schools or [on] mattresses,” he said.
Crossing the border on foot is prohibited, and only buses with special permits can make the journey. Atabani accuses local bus drivers of taking advantage of the desperate situation, with prices skyrocketing from $3,000 to $40,000 for the 30-kilometer trip.
“I cannot guarantee my children’s medical health here, we are in the middle of the desert. I want the British government to assist me in evacuating or a bus which can get us across the border,” Atabani said.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which began on April 15, has claimed hundreds of lives and left thousands injured. Despite a recent ceasefire agreement, clashes have continued in some areas.
This has left the population of 10 million without supplies of food, water, and fuel.
UK relatives of the trapped family have made repeated efforts to get help from the Foreign Office, but to no avail.
Officials have stated that British citizens can only be evacuated from the Wadi Seidna airfield near Khartoum, a dangerous two-day bus journey away.
The Foreign Office has said it is “working intensively to evacuate British Nationals” and has urged those wishing to leave to travel to the British Evacuation Centre as soon as possible. As of Thursday evening, 897 people have been flown out of Wadi Saeedna airfield.