No10 says ‘no plans’ for Sudan resettlement scheme

Downing Street has said there are no plans for a Sudan resettlement scheme today as more British citizens were evacuated.

The PM’s spokesman played down the prospect of creating a specific visa route for people displaced by the fighting – similar to those put in place for Afghanistan and Ukraine.

More than 500 Britons and close relatives have so far been brought out of the country as the clock ticks down on a ceasefire, due to end tonight.

Many have been transported to London Stansted after being flown from Khartoum to Cyprus by the RAF.

Councils and community groups have been on hand to meet arrivals and offer them emergency accommodation, healthcare and provisions if they do not have options with family. 

No10 said there were no plans for a Sudan resettlement scheme, but that it was ‘something we keep under review’.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the UK will ‘endeavour to keep evacuating people’ from Sudan if the ceasefire is not extended.

Many have been transported to London Stansted after being flown from Khartoum to Cyprus by the RAF.

The spokesman also said the UK would ‘obviously support any extensions to the ceasefire. It’s something we are actively lobbying for’.

Two flights have landed in Cyprus on Thursday with more expected later as efforts to evacuate UK citizens from Sudan continue.

The spokesman said: ‘A further flight has landed today. It was six flights yesterday, two have landed today and there are more expected later today as well.’

It is ‘imperative’ that anyone who wants to leave the country and is eligible to come to the UK does so as soon as possible, Downing Street added.

No10 said there were no plans for a Sudan resettlement scheme, but that it was ‘something we keep under review’.

It is ‘imperative’ that anyone who wants to leave the country and is eligible to come to the UK does so as soon as possible, Downing Street added.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the UK will ‘endeavour to keep evacuating people’ from Sudan if the ceasefire is not extended.

He said: ‘However, it is almost impossible for us to predict whether there will be an extension and what the circumstances might be like if the extension does not happen.

‘We will endeavour to keep evacuating people through the airhead in Wadi Seidna but we cannot guarantee our ability to do so.

‘We are exploring the support to other routes, which is why we have set up a temporary presence at Port Sudan and why we have officials at the border in the neighbouring countries.’