The humanitarian organization Gift of the Givers has stepped in to help South Africans trapped in Sudan. Since fighting broke out between rival generals more than a week ago, hundreds of people have been killed and many injured.
South Africans trapped in Sudan
Countries like the USA and the UK have evacuated their citizens but many people from other African countries are still stuck there.
The co-founder of Gift of the Givers, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman has reiterated that this is not their operation, but they are assisting the South Africans, who have good contacts in the strife-torn-capital city Khartoum.
“We’ve been trying to support them and encourage them and guide them in the best way possible. Fortunately some of the South Africans have good connections inside Sudan. through one of those connections, we’ve managed to organize busses to move them to the airport. The question is which airport? ” Sooliman added.
4 possible routes
He says it is not safe yet for the people to be moved. Various options have been highlighted as to where they could the distressed citizens. On the fact that there are 4 possible places to move them too, he added, “Options are Port Sudan, Egypt and there are 2 other airports, which I will not mention.”
The organization is also in contact with role-players in the South African government.
“We can see from the chat (Whatsapp) created by the South Africans, they resilient, they are strong, trying different options, but they are also anxious, they scared and they want to come home. They are looking for better communication systems, for better feedback as to what’s happening.”
“It is extremely complicated but careful planning, paper work, right decisions, working together, all of us, I’m sure we’ll survive and succeed in bringing everyone home,” he added.
At the same time, Dr Sooliman says, another African country has approached them to help bring some of their citizens from Sudan to safety.
He said, “It has been a very tough and challenging time for South African citizens, caught in the conflict in Sudan.”
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