Another 93 Pakistanis stuck in Sudan arrived in Islamabad on Monday as efforts continue to evacuate people from the conflict-hit country. They were transported through a national flag carrier flight, bringing the tally of nationals returning here to 636, PTV reported.

“The situation is very bad there [Sudan] and thank God we have safely reached here,” a Pakistani worker told Radio Pakistan. Despite returning home, the person was seen tense while talking to the state-run radio channel.

The development came as the Sudan conflict shows no sign of easing. Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands wounded since a long-simmering power struggle between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted into conflict on April 15.

It took stranded Pakistanis eight days to reach here. They reached the Islamabad International Airport via flight PK754, said the Foreign Office. They were welcomed by Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sajid Hussain Turi and Adviser to the PM on Political and Public Affairs Amir Muqam.

At least 1,500 Pakistanis were living in Sudan, according to the Foreign Office.

Muqam said that they were present to give a message that they were with them at this stage. Around 600 to 700 people have so far arrived here, he said, adding that Pakistan Air Force helped in the transportation of the citizens.

He thanked Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia for the evacuation efforts and added that the government was bearing all expenses for the nationals. “The government is also giving Rs9,000 to every returning citizen so that they reach their house.”

Turi, who was standing alongside Muqam, clarified that Rs9,500 was being given to the people going to rural Sindh and locals were getting Rs3,000.

One of the nationals described the government’s decision as “outstanding” as timely decisions were taken. “We are alive and we are in Pakistan,” he said and thanked all the foreign missions.

The first batch of Pakistanis evacuated from Sudan reached home on April 28. Multiple countries have been carrying out the operations.

At least 36 Pakistanis stuck in Sudan arrived in Jeddah on Sunday. They were transported through a plane belonging to the Royal Saudi Air Force.

“A transport plane belonging to the Royal Saudi Air Force arrived in Jeddah today with 45 Saudi citizens and 36 people of Pakistani nationality, and the ship of H M S “Al-Diriyah” arrived in Jeddah, with 52 nationals of brotherly and friendly countries on board,” the Saudi Arabia foreign ministry tweeted on Sunday.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office thanked the kingdom for rescuing the people. Saudi Arabia is one of the countries taking part in the evacuation operations.

“We are grateful to the brotherly country of Saudi Arabia for their support and assistance to Pakistanis in distress in this difficult time,” it said on Monday.

Mohammad Ahsan Sami, who returned home on Saturday, said that as many as there were still about 150 to 170 people at Port Sudan. He was of the view that the main challenge was securing slots on ships bound for Jeddah.

“There are two modes of ferrying people out of port Sudan to Jeddah: 1. Via naval ships of friendly countries like Saudi Arabia and China, 2. Commercial ferries,” Sami said.

Naval ships, especially Saudi Arabia, have a total capacity of about 200 passengers, he added. “In this, they allot a quota of about 45 people to Pakistanis. Commercial ferries have carried as many as 200 Pakistanis in one trip but these are too few and usually, one slot opens in three days.”

He went on to add that the logistics of Port Sudan to Jeddah were quite challenging, therefore the process was slow.

UN sending envoy over ‘unprecedented’ Sudan war fallout

The top United Nations humanitarian official is heading to the Sudan region due to the “rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis” in the conflict-racked country, the UN chief said.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ announcement Sunday came shortly after rival Sudanese forces announced the extension of a truce they have largely violated, as warplanes roared overhead and fighting continued in the capital Khartoum.

“The scale and speed of what is unfolding is unprecedented in Sudan. We are extremely concerned by the immediate as well as long-term impact on all people in Sudan, and the broader region,” Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for Guterres, said in a statement.

He said the UN chief was “immediately” sending Martin Griffiths, his emergency relief coordinator, to the area “in light of the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Sudan”.