Tuesday 12 / November / 2024
MUSCAT: It was a sense of relief and joy for people who arrived in Muscat via Saudi Arabia from conflict-stricken Sudan.
Hundreds of people have died since fighting broke out between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), sparked by plans to integrate the RSF into the armed forces.
Among the several Omani citizens and Sudanese residents who safely landed in Muscat after an anxious wait was 46-year-old Ehab Eltayeb Hassan.
Hassan, was visiting his family in his native city of Shendi in northern Sudan, situated on the southeastern bank of the Nile river, 150 km northeast of capital Khartoum.
In an exclusive chat with Times of Oman, Hassan recounted the ordeal of his escape but was relieved to have made it back to Oman without any harm.
Hassan was among the thousands who managed to flee Sudan with the assistance of Saudi Arabian authorities, who organised large-scale evacuation on ships and ferries from Port Sudan to Jeddah.
Two days after his arrival in Muscat, Hassan recollected his journey. He said: “I was scheduled to return on April 18, but fighting began three days before my return. I live in the city of Shendi, which is far from Khartoum. We got to know that the airspace has been closed to April 30 initially, which has been extended to May 13.
“I had begun my journey for Muscat from my city on April 15 but my family called me up and asked me to return as they told me that the situation is too dangerous to travel.”
Hassan hoped that things would improve but it didn’t and then he received a message from his friend informing about the evacuation plan arranged by Saudi Arabian authorities from Port Sudan.
“Port Sudan is 650km away from my city and I was told that ships were lined up to evacuate foreigners and residents from Gulf nations. I coordinated with my friend and decided to take the journey and meet him in Port Sudan,” said Hassan.
He added: “I purchased my own ticket from Shendi to Port Sudan to travel by bus on April 27 and reached safely to meet my friend. On arrival, I was happy to see that there were Saudi officials in good strength to supervise the evacuation process.
“We were told about the priority of evacuees and after a day of waiting, I was on board a ship Amana that had nearly 2,000 people on board, which included foreign nationals and Sudanese residents in different Gulf nations. Among the people on board Amana were elderly women and babies. There were many difficult moments, all of which involved fear, tension, and anxiety.
“Following a journey of 24 hours due to sea conditions, we finally landed in Jeddah on April 29. It was a tough journey as the ship was packed to capacity but on arrival we were given a warm welcome by the Saudi officials.”
Hassan said that he along with other Sudanese residents of Gulf nations were then put up in Roshan Hotel for two days after the Saudi Arabian officials granted a free visa for a month.
“Finally, I purchased a flight ticket from Jeddah to Muscat and arrived safely on May 1, much to the relief and joy of my family. My wife and my six children were overjoyed on seeing me as they were worried throughout from the moment I left Shendi,” said Hassan.
