A women greets her daughter (R) evacuated from Sudan after she arrives in Abuja, Nigeria, May 4, 2023. The first batch of Nigerians who were stranded in Sudan arrived in the capital Abuja late Wednesday. The 376 people, who were airlifted from the border region with Egypt, arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, and were warmly welcomed by Nigerian authorities. (Photo by Adelakun/Xinhua)
ABUJA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of Nigerians who were stranded in Sudan arrived in the capital Abuja late Wednesday.
The 376 people, who were airlifted from the border region with Egypt, arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, and were warmly welcomed by Nigerian authorities.
The country started to evacuate its citizens from Sudan one week ago. The weeks-long conflict between Sudan's military factions has caused a humanitarian crisis in the country, sent a geopolitical shockwave that reverberates through the region, and prompted many countries to rush to evacuate their citizens.
Mustapha Ahmed, head of the National Emergency Management Agency that coordinated the evacuation of the Nigerians stranded in Sudan, told reporters that four more flights are expected to arrive in Nigeria on Thursday.
"I am happy that our people have started coming back," Ahmed said while assuring the safe return of the rest of the Nigerians in Sudan. ■
This photo taken on May 4, 2023 shows people in a Nigerian air force plane used to evacuate Nigerians from Sudan arriving in Abuja, Nigeria. The first batch of Nigerians who were stranded in Sudan arrived in the capital Abuja late Wednesday. The 376 people, who were airlifted from the border region with Egypt, arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, and were warmly welcomed by Nigerian authorities. (Photo by Adelakun/Xinhua)
A Nigerian air force plane carrying Nigerians evacuated from Sudan arrives in Abuja, Nigeria, May 4, 2023. The first batch of Nigerians who were stranded in Sudan arrived in the capital Abuja late Wednesday. The 376 people, who were airlifted from the border region with Egypt, arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, and were warmly welcomed by Nigerian authorities. (Photo by Adelakun/Xinhua)
People get off from a Nigerian air force plane used to evacuate Nigerians from Sudan in Abuja, Nigeria, May 4, 2023. The first batch of Nigerians who were stranded in Sudan arrived in the capital Abuja late Wednesday. The 376 people, who were airlifted from the border region with Egypt, arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, and were warmly welcomed by Nigerian authorities. (Photo by Adelakun/Xinhua)