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Sudan brit evacuation

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Old 28th Apr 2023, 02:51
  #41 (permalink)  
 
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One BBC report mentioned two Brits on foot trying to escape Khartoum who almost immediately got robbed by gun-toting crazies militia on the street corner. One imagines that among other necessaries, they might well have lost their passports at that point.
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Old 28th Apr 2023, 09:56
  #42 (permalink)  
 
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A Turkish AF C-130 is claimed to have been shot at right after take-off, with one passenger injured. Could continue the flight.
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Old 28th Apr 2023, 10:01
  #43 (permalink)  
 
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How many individual Hercules have been used by the RAF for the evacuations? Not bothered with Atlas, we've got plenty of those.
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Old 28th Apr 2023, 10:08
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It seems odd that there are 20 plus NHS doctors there one of whom was on Radio 4,this morning who has worked in Manchester for 4 years who was there visiting family who was denied a seat on a plane out.

Brits can be weird.

Cheers
Mr Mac
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Old 28th Apr 2023, 10:36
  #45 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Mr Mac
It seems odd that there are 20 plus NHS doctors there one of whom was on Radio 4,this morning who has worked in Manchester for 4 years who was there visiting family who was denied a seat on a plane out.

Brits can be weird.

Cheers
Mr Mac
The flights are specified for British Citizens. The troops have been briefed only to allow British Passport holders onboard.

How many Sudanese (and other ) people do you imagine are arriving there without British passports but waving letters and documents that they hope will get them onto the aircraft?

Whilst i have sympathy for the Doctor(s) involved I also recognise the challenges of the realities.

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Old 28th Apr 2023, 12:08
  #46 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by OvertHawk
The flights are specified for British Citizens. The troops have been briefed only to allow British Passport holders onboard.
How many Sudanese (and other ) people do you imagine are arriving there without British passports but waving letters and documents that they hope will get them onto the aircraft?
Whilst i have sympathy for the Doctor(s) involved I also recognise the challenges of the realities.
I have limited sympathy for them. FCO has been warning UK citizens not to travel to Sudan for months, and advising those already there to consider leaving for their own safety. Those still there bear most of the responsibility for their predicament.
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Old 28th Apr 2023, 12:16
  #47 (permalink)  
 
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u.s. Embassy khartoum retweeted

travel - state dept


@travelgov
possibilities for u.s. Citizens to depart khartoum: There are options to depart sudan, but you must decide the safest and best method of departure for yourself and your family. There have been reports of individuals being robbed, including of their u.s. Passports. Roads may be crowded, exposed to combat operations, or have deteriorated infrastructure. Border crossings into neighboring countries are possible, but wait times at crossing points could vary widely and change quickly. Port of sudan (south of khartoum): This is approximately a 15-hour journey from khartoum. Once in port sudan, efforts are underway to ferry individuals to jeddah, saudi arabia. If you have a lost, stolen, mutilated, or expired u.s. Passport this may be the best option to consider. We can provide emergency passport services at the u.s. Consulate in jeddah. Land borders with egypt & ethiopia: The egyptian and ethiopian governments have stated they will relax their entry requirements for u.s. Citizens to cross these land borders. You may need a valid passport to cross the land border. In addition to your u.s. Passport, you should bring the following items: -identity documents in case your u.s. Passport is lost/stolen -food/water -extra fuel if you are driving -necessary medicines and other essentials once you arrive in a safe location, please respond to the department email you received after completing the registration form to let us know, and contact the nearest u.s. Embassy or consulate if you need further assistance. More at: https://sd.usembassy.gov/security-alert/
Fuel availability for cars must be a major issue. This is why most people don't make it to Port of Sudan. North air base access can be tricky as well.
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Old 28th Apr 2023, 15:21
  #48 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by langleybaston
Various news items suggest that we now have an airfield from which to repatriate hapless Brits.

Job for the Regiment? Surely yes, but probably not being used. Again.

Anyway, good luck to all, get Home safely.

No hotels? if not, the Army will cover for you.
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Old 28th Apr 2023, 15:56
  #49 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by OvertHawk
The flights are specified for British Citizens. The troops have been briefed only to allow British Passport holders onboard.

How many Sudanese (and other ) people do you imagine are arriving there without British passports but waving letters and documents that they hope will get them onto the aircraft?

Whilst i have sympathy for the Doctor(s) involved I also recognise the challenges of the realities.
BBC News at lunchtime today managed to broadcast a completely one-sided story of the doctor’s plight, highlighting the support they provided during Covid, but decided not to give any explanation why they were being currently refused flights back to UK. They just can’t help themselves to have a dig at the current Government, whenever they deem it possible.
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Old 28th Apr 2023, 16:04
  #50 (permalink)  
 
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So now Covid is over, your passport matters? I bet the patients in intensive care didn't ask to see the doctor's passport.
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Old 28th Apr 2023, 16:24
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Originally Posted by Mr Mac
It seems odd that there are 20 plus NHS doctors there one of whom was on Radio 4,this morning who has worked in Manchester for 4 years who was there visiting family who was denied a seat on a plane out.

Brits can be weird.

Cheers
Mr Mac
Mr Mac

Are you sure you have the whole story ? The doctor involved is not a British passport-holder: he has a work-permit.

Surely you can understand that:
a) British citizens get priority
b) This is not an office-situation where there can be meetings over weeks to get a consensus , and that simple, unambiguous rules are needed.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/sudanese-...044028207.html

Originally Posted by Ninthace
So now Covid is over, your passport matters? I bet the patients in intensive care didn't ask to see the doctor's passport.
So how would you decide at the airport gate ?
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Old 28th Apr 2023, 16:30
  #52 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Ninthace
So now Covid is over, your passport matters? I bet the patients in intensive care didn't ask to see the doctor's passport.
On the BBC Lunchtime News, the doctor said he has a work permit to enter the UK, not a UK passport which, as I understand, is the qualifier for getting on the evacuation flights.

Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong.
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Old 28th Apr 2023, 16:51
  #53 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by 4mastacker
On the BBC Lunchtime News, the doctor said he has a work permit to enter the UK, not a UK passport which, as I understand, is the qualifier for getting on the evacuation flights.

Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong.
By "work permit" I imagine he is referring to a T2 visa vignette on his passport.
If so it seems odd that those checking in were not briefed as to the rights & validity of T2 visa holders - if that is the case in this instance.
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Old 28th Apr 2023, 17:19
  #54 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by SLXOwft
I presume Larnaca is also more suitable for the charter aircraft being used. Of course the US may have insisted asked the UK to avoid the risk of the passengers accidentally seeing the weather balloons.

Using the RM rather the regiment is logical IMHO because:
  • the marines were available at Akrotiri, presumably from the same unit that performed the evacuation of diplomatic staff with 16 Air Assault and an unnamed unit based near the English/Welsh border.
  • II Squadron RAF Regt (having recently taken over from 51 Squadron RAF Regt) have an important job to do at Akrotiri which given its location and the ongoing operations is undoubtedly on several lists of targets.
  • the operation is more of 'aid to the civil power' one rather than an opposed extraction which would potentially justify flying Rocks out from the UK to defend aircraft ops.
  • the airfield is under the control of the Sudanese government's forces who presumably would object to an overt takeover of their role.
Thank you. Answers my earlier question nicely.
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Old 28th Apr 2023, 17:27
  #55 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Tartiflette Fan
Mr Mac

Are you sure you have the whole story ? The doctor involved is not a British passport-holder: he has a work-permit.

Surely you can understand that:
a) British citizens get priority
b) This is not an office-situation where there can be meetings over weeks to get a consensus , and that simple, unambiguous rules are needed.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/sudanese-...044028207.html



So how would you decide at the airport gate ?
Simple. if he came out from the UK, he had permission to be there so he can go back. One of the cases where it is better to ask for forgiveness after the event rather than request permission before. Moreover, we are desperately short of doctors!
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Old 28th Apr 2023, 17:33
  #56 (permalink)  
 
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If the doctor is working in the UK, is he/she paying taxes there?

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Old 28th Apr 2023, 17:38
  #57 (permalink)  
 
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Can someone explain why we’re using the soon to be demobbed Hercules when there are perfectly serviceable A400s sitting around Brize. Waiting for spares..
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Oh.

Thank you Albert. Still serving to the end.
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Old 28th Apr 2023, 17:59
  #58 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Sue Vêtements
If the doctor is working in the UK, is he/she paying taxes there?
So now they have to present a passport with the appropriate visa and a tax return!? This is Sudan, not France!
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Old 28th Apr 2023, 18:08
  #59 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Ninthace
So now they have to present a passport with the appropriate visa and a tax return!? This is Sudan, not France!
What made me wonder was his use of the term "work permit" instead of visa - pretty sure that in his situation I would have stressed the word visa (ie right of entry (but not necessarily right to work)) - however I suspect that in this case those responsible for checking in were inadequately briefed.


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Old 28th Apr 2023, 18:26
  #60 (permalink)  
 
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I assume (/hope) SV means the doctor has been contibuting part of his salary and paying VAT etc on his purchases to help fund the UK's armed forces.

I understand the argument that it should be UK citizens first but if there is spare capacity (which I understand there has been on some flights) the surely those with the right of abode should be able to take the spaces.

The question of close family members with no right of abode is a humanitarian question that also needs addressing.

What duty of care the UK owes the ordinary Sudanese depends on how strongly one feels Sudan is yet another state Britain granted independence to under a democratic regime without providing the support to help it thrive. (I am assuming NBCD State 1 Condition Zulu Alpha)
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