Suella Braverman today lashed out at the German strikes, saying British citizens in Sudan have been “left to fend for themselves”.
The Home Secretary dismissed the joke, saying the UK was in a “very different situation” than other countries.
Hundreds of Britons have been evacuated from Sudan as the army races against time to get people to safety before the ceasefire ends.
Flights started landing in Cyprus overnight, with more coming today. But the British government has been criticized for not intervening sooner, evacuating diplomats while initially telling citizens to make their own plans.
In sharp remarks, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said she would not “leave the citizens to fend for themselves”.
She said that “unlike in other countries,” the evacuation of Berlin included all citizens rather than just embassy staff.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (left) said she would not “leave civilians to fend for themselves”. Suella Braverman (right) said the UK was in a “very different situation”.
British citizens wait to disembark an A400M transport plane at Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus on Tuesday.
Rishi Sunak has said it is “correct” that diplomats were given priority “because they were attacked.”
Ms Braverman said she “disproved” the suggestion. “We are in a very different situation than in other countries. We have a larger cohort of British citizens in Sudan than in other countries.’
He added: “We are now embarking on a comprehensive operation, working with more than 1,000 members of the RAF and armed forces.”
With British citizens, with dual nationality and their dependents forced to go by their own means to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip, where the evacuation flights depart..
British forces are expected to take control of the workings of Wadi Saeedna from German forces, something that could require a greater British military presence on the ground.
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said 120 British soldiers have already supported the operation there.
The British Army could be ready to use force if necessary to protect the airbase should it come under attack during the airlift, although the troops are there mainly to help with logistics and air traffic control.
The government is also considering other options, including a possible evacuation by sea from Port Sudan, some 500 miles from the capital.
HMS Lancaster and RFA Cardigan Bay have been dispatched to the region.
The mission was launched during a ceasefire between the warring factions. But Secretary of State James Cleverly warned that the removal of British citizens is “inherently dangerous” because “we are not sure how long it will take.”
A British-born student trying to flee Sudan said she did not have enough gasoline to make the perilous hour-long journey from the outskirts of Khartoum to the airstrip.
Some 1,400 British soldiers are taking part in the “large scale” evacuation of British citizens from Sudan. Pictured: British soldiers at Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus prepare to board a plane to evacuate British citizens from Sudan.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visits the Crisis Center at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office on Tuesday to speak to staff working on the current situation in Sudan.
‘I’m trying to get there. But the problem is that the vehicles we have are out of petrol and the petrol stations are empty,” Samar Eltayeb, 20, from Birmingham, told the PA news agency.
“There will be constant flights for the next few days, but if I can’t find gas to get there, I’m stuck.”
Over 2,000 UK citizens have registered with the Sudan FCDO.
Families with children or elderly relatives, or people with medical conditions, have priority on flights.
Only UK passport holders and close relatives with existing UK entry permits will be informed that they are eligible.
Nationals have been advised that all travel within Sudan is ‘at your own risk’.
