375 Canadians brought out of Sudan as fighting continues: officials
CTV
More than 375 Canadians have been flown out of Sudan as of Friday and at least one evacuation flight is planned Saturday as fighting continues in the northeast African nation.
More than 375 Canadians have been flown out of Sudan as of Friday and at least one evacuation flight is planned Saturday as fighting continues in the northeast African nation.
Federal officials from the immigration and defence departments provided an update Saturday morning on efforts to get Canadians out of the country, where clashes between Sudan's military and the powerful paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces, have killed more than 400 civilians to date.
The number of Canadians who fled Sudan includes those who left on allied aircraft.
Defence Minister Anita Anand confirmed in a virtual press conference that two flights left Sudan on Friday carrying approximately 221 people, including 68 Canadians and six permanent residents.
On Thursday, two flights on CC-130 Hercules aircraft carried 117 people, including 42 Canadians, to Djibouti.
"The window for opportunity at the airfield is closing," Anand said, as fighting moves closer to the Wadi Seidna Air Base in Khartoum.
She said the Canadian Armed Forces has deployed 200 members, with Army, Navy, Air Force and Special Operations all in the region.
