UK begins evacuation of British nationals stuck in war-torn Sudan

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [The Independent]( April 25, 2023 [View online](   [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [UK launches evacuation flights for Brits stuck in Sudan]( British troops have flown into eastern [Sudan]( as officials consider “every possible option” to evacuate thousands of UK nationals stranded in the wartorn country, with some saying they feel “abandoned” by the government. The soldiers are understood to have landed at Port Sudan, 500 miles from the capital Khartoum, to scope out options in what British defence officials say could be a more difficult operation than the evacuation from Kabul in 2021. But it does not mean a rescue plan is imminent, as [Rishi Sunak](’s government continues to decide on a course of action. Ministers held another Cobra meeting on the crisis on Monday afternoon. Britons stranded in Sudan continue to be advised to “stay indoors”, register with the [Foreign Office]( and await further instructions, despite other European nations flying some of their citizens to safety. Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell told the Commons on Monday that British nationals in Sudan could “exercise their own judgment” on whether to relocate themselves – but said they do so at their own risk. Acknowledging the dire situation in the capital Khartoum, Mr Mitchell said food and water are becoming “increasingly scarce”, while energy supplies are disrupted and internet and telephone networks are becoming difficult to access.   2 / [British doctor shot in leg as he rescued mother and daughter in Sudan]( Exclusive: Retired NHS doctor is being treated for gunshot wound at a relative’s home, with conditions in Khartoum too dangerous to travel to hospital 3 / [Rishi Sunak now investigated on two fronts by ethics watchdog over wife’s childcare shares row]( Probe into PM expanded by standards commissioner 4 / [UK weather: Snow forecast as Arctic blast causes temperatures to plummet across Britain]( Cold and frosty start expected for the day as heavy and thundery rain sweeps eastwards across southern parts 5 / [Huge 7.3 earthquake damages hospital and sends people running for higher ground in Indonesia]( Residents flee villages overnight on foot and motorcycles in the dark and amid rain THE BIG QUESTION [Sudan conflict explained: What’s happening in Khartoum?]( Fighting has erupted in [Sudan](’s capital city [Khartoum]( and other sites across the country this month as [powerful rival military factions battle for control]( of the African nation and its future. So far, over 420 people, including 264 civilians, have been killed in the conflict and over 3,700 wounded. The sudden slide into violence between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group called [Rapid Support Forces]( (RSF) has stranded thousands of foreigners, including diplomats and aid workers in the country, with the UK, US, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states among those closing their embassies and working to evacuate their nationals. 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