IOM organized two evacuation flights from Sana’a to Khartoum International Airport, Haj & Umra Terminal last week, carrying a total of 285 third country nationals (TCNs) from 19 different nationalities. The first chartered flight took place on Sunday 12th of April arriving in Khartoum International Airport at approximately 19.30. The flight was carrying 148 passengers from various nationalities including, Sudan, Ethiopia, USA, Egypt, the Republic of Korea and numerous European countries. The second chartered flight arrived in Khartoum on Tuesday 14th April at approximately 22.00 local time. This flight carrying 137 TCNs from 14 different nationalities including, Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Albania, USA, Canada, Tunisia, Burundi and various European countries.

As of 19th April, 100% of the passengers evacuated from Yemen departed from Khartoum to their home counties, including onward travel to Ethiopia, Egypt, Canada, USA, UK, Burundi, Albania and numerous other European countries. These passengers were reunited with their families and loved ones, and IOM has received an abundance of messages of appreciation from numerous embassies and government representatives, as well as families of those who have been safely returned to their homes. A citizen of United Kingdom who was evacuated from Sana’a by IOM thanked staff upon his arrival at Khartoum International airport stating “IOM was Fantastic throughout! Great support, quick responses and guidance, and now because of their help, I’m on my way back to my family.”

The operations were a success and pave the way for the continuation of evacuations for more than 16,000 identified third country nationals stranded in Yemen. “IOM has received requests from 38 countries to evacuate their nationals from Yemen and we believe that there may be as many as 16,000 stranded TCNs. We have negotiated an agreement with Sudan and Ethiopia to create a humanitarian air bridge to allow us to evacuate as many people as possible,” said Mohammed Abdiker, Director of IOM’s Department of Operations and Emergencies.

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For More information please contact: Amani Osman, Communications Officer, IOM Sudan aosman2@iom.int +249 92 240 6686