China Deploys Navy To Evacuate Citizens From Sudan

China has deployed its navy to evacuate  citizens from conflict-hit Sudan, the defense ministry in Beijing made this known on Thursday.

Multiple nations have scrambled to evacuate embassy staff and citizens by road, air and sea from Sudan, where fighting between the army and paramilitaries has killed hundreds and led to acute shortages of water, food, medicines and fuel.

Rescue operations intensified in recent days as a 72-hour cease-fire took effect on Tuesday.

“Recently, the security situation in Sudan has continued to deteriorate,” Chinese defense ministry spokesman Tan Kefei said.

The navy was deployed on Wednesday, he added, “in order to protect the lives and property of Chinese people in Sudan.”

On Monday, China disclosed that it had safely evacuated a first group of citizens, estimating about 1,500 of its nationals were in Sudan.

Tan did not specify the number of vessels involved.

China says it is Sudan’s largest trading partner, with more than 130 companies investing there as of mid-2022.

Some 800 Chinese citizens would be evacuated from Sudan by sea from April 25 to 27, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Wednesday.

More than 300 other people have crossed over to countries bordering Sudan by land, she added.