Evacuations following sudden conflict outbreak
Military clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) erupted in Khartoum, Omdurman and other urban centres across Sudan. Healix stood up its Incident Management Team (IMT) for a number of multi-national corporations to evacuate their travellers, employees and dependents from the active conflict zone.
Challenge
Following SAF offensives against RSF operational bases, fighting in the capital had largely moved to suburban residential areas as militia fighters spread out within the city to occupy civilian and public buildings. Our initial advice was to shelter in place in secure accommodations and not to attempt travel within urban centres whilst conflict was ongoing. However, with limited availability of food, water and fuel, we knew we had to move quickly. Additionally, strained communications, made it difficult to get a clear understanding of the evolving situation on the ground.
Approach
We engaged with our in-country security consultant and identified vehicles and egress routes to plan for evacuations. We utilised our own intelligence analysts and leveraged information from our in-country security consultant and were able to successfully work up multiple options. Each option went through four stages of assessment, ensuring that all were viable ahead of any evacuations being made.
Outcome
Sudan has been one of the world’s most complex operating environments due to the lack of available of supplies and poor communications, coupled with sustained hostilities with weak command and control and no rules of engagement on either side.
However, over a period of 14 days, Healix provided supplies to multiple people sheltering in place and successfully carried out several evacuations via different routes. This included internal ground moves to Wadi Sayyidna and Port Sudan in support of international evacuation efforts and direct evacuations from Khartoum to Egypt via border crossings.