Canadian family describes escape from Sudan

A Canadian family, on what was supposed to be a vacation to visit family in Sudan was forced to escape to Germany after Sudan descends into civil war. But most disheartening for Nagwa El Mamoun and her daughter Dalia Abbadi, the inability of the Canadian government to get Canadian citizens to safety.

“It was kind of shocking seeing, not just the presence of the RSF and the SAF, but just people’s bodies who unfortunately died in the battle or war, and it’s really really heartbreaking. And on top of that, we have folks who are struggling and so people are resorting to robbing people they see on the road,” explained Abbadi.

“At moments it felt like it was hopeless, kind of just getting the message of ‘stay tight, we’re working on something’ and we’re hearing on the news that other nations are working on plans to evacuate their people. It was very hopeless.”

El Mamoun and Abbadi say they contacted global affairs when fighting broke out in mid-April, but got little information on when or if the embassy in Khartoum might be able to provide help. As the violence began to take people close to them, the family even considered the risky option of escaping into Egypt.

“People like my cousin. She’s just 27-years-old. She’s a physician with one daughter, with her parents. And she died. She died because there was a bullet that came into their house. Died in front of her family,” explained El Mamoun.

Abbadi adding, “The situation is extremely volatile and extremely tense and so we need to be very careful about disclosing more information at this time.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says one of the problems is many nations – like France and Germany – are competing for landing time to evacuate diplomats and citizens.

“There’s no delay. Obviously, it’s an extremely difficult situation. We’ve had resources in the region for many days now,’ said Trudeau.

Foreign minister Melanie Joly says her ministry knows of around 1,700 Canadians in Sudan. 550 have asked for help getting out, but around 100 have been evacuated by allied nations.

El Mamoun and Abbadi were evacuated by Germany and are in Berlin, waiting for transport home to the greater Toronto area. But though they’re safe, Abbadi says her mind goes to those still there.

“We have folks, a family who are based in Sudan currently who don’t have the means to come out, and just hoping that the government can in some way step up – like they have stepped up for other nations to be able to (help) those people who don’t have the means out.”

-With files from Xiao Li