The Kurdish-led administration of northeast Syria on Monday successfully evacuated 161 stranded Syrian citizens from Sudan. Sudan has been engulfed in fierce clashes for over a month, prompting the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) to form a committee dedicated to assisting and repatriating Syrians trapped in the country.
Mustafa Bali, a member of the evacuation committee, stated that the administration’s foreign relation department and the committee had been in contact over the past month with the Syrians stranded in Sudan. In coordination with the AANES, a committee was formed in Sudan to facilitate the evacuation process, leading to the launch of the first flight from Sudan to Qamishli (Qamişlo).
“The flight arrived today from Sudan with 161 Syrians onboard,” Bali confirmed. He emphasised that efforts would continue to organise additional flights to repatriate all Syrians in need.
The clashes in Sudan, involving the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, have caused significant casualties, with many civilians among the victims. The conflict, which began on 15 April, has led to a deteriorating situation characterised by power outages, water shortages, and food scarcity.
Earlier this month, Syrians in Sudan had urgently appealed to the AANES for assistance after receiving no response from the Syrian government. Subsequently, the AANES formed a committee to facilitate the safe return of citizens from Sudan.
The clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces have persisted for three weeks, resulting in a significant death toll and numerous injuries. Since the outbreak of heavy fighting on 15 April in Khartoum and other cities, at least 850 civilians have been killed.
