South Africans Trapped In Sudan Disappointed With Government's Response Over Evacuation

South Africans trapped in Sudan are blaming their government for lack of communication and assistance in evacuating them amid the fighting there between rival military forces.

Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been battling in the streets of the capital and other cities since April 15. According to multiple reports, the violence has killed more than 400 people in a week.

South Africans trapped in the country have slammed their country's government for not helping them to evacuate from Sudan and reach South Africa safely. One person named Ash Ramraj told News24 that he and his colleagues were facing "unbearable" living conditions.

Ramraj said he left South Africa for Sudan on March 11. He felt that the South African government had left all citizens trapped in Sudan to fend for themselves.

He said he could not reach the meeting point announced by the the South African government, he could not make it as it was a two-and-a-half-hour walk and there was no transportation available.

"For us to leave the building is impossible, because there are gunshots everywhere," he told the outlet. "There are about 10 dead bodies lying outside of our building, that's how bad it is. In my building, there are a few expats from South Africa, the UK and even Kenya. We are all trying to get out of here."

Ramraj said his location was close to the presidential palace, in Sudan's capital Khartoum. He explained that they were out of flood, electricity and supplies.

"We haven't had power since Wednesday, we rely on generator power for two hours a day, just to keep the water pumps running and essentials, to charge our phones," he added. "We are in survival mode now."

Ramraj noted that this has been going on for the last two days. There is non-stop bombing and firing. He said the "most disappointing" thing is that the war has been going on for the last eight days and the South African embassy asked them for their locations only on Sunday evening.

"There are about 50 to 60 South Africans here in Sudan, how do they expect each and every one of us here to get out of here, because we're all in different locations?" he asked.

He claimed that there is no clear communication from the government and they are putting South African citizen's life at risk by asking them to reach the meeting point without guidance, noting that they don't have any Sudanese interpreters.

Anopther South African national, Birgitte Davy, who works as an HR specialist in Khartoum, said that embassies are evacuating their citizens.

"The ceasefire seem to be allowing people to get out," Davy told EWN. "There are still hot spots where fighting is fierce, but people are getting through. On the roads we're getting lots of reports of robberies."

"Our South African embassy has been in touch with us, but their repeated call for us has been to be calm and to wait and to sit tight," she added.