British troops have been flown into Sudan to help evacuate those who are stranded in the crisis-hit country.
Soldiers have been sent on a reconnaissance mission to eastern Sudan, it has been reported.
Yesterday the SAS conducted a dramatic rescue mission to get British diplomats and their families out of Sudan.
However, thousands of UK citizens are believed to remain in danger as the civil war spreads across the country.
More than 100 troops, accompanied by paratroopers and marines, were involved in the operation.
It was reported that the elite special forces unit managed to shepherd the group out of the North African country’s capital Khartoum.
More troops landed at Port Sudan, on the Red Sea on Monday, after a flight tracking website showed a C-17 transport aircraft heading in the direction of Sudan, according to Sky News.
It does not mean any rescue is imminent, however, as the government is working out what are the best options to present to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to help thousands of British nationals, under fire in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.
British nationals who choose to move for safety within war-torn Sudan do so at their own risk, a Foreign Office minister said.
Giving an update on the situation in the north-east African country, Andrew Mitchell told the Commons: ‘Movement around the capital (Khartoum) remains extremely dangerous and no evacuation option comes without grave risk to life.
‘Khartoum airport is out of action. Energy supplies are disrupted. Food and water are becoming increasingly scarce. Internet and telephone networks are becoming difficult to access.
‘We continue to advise all British nationals in Sudan to stay indoors wherever possible.
‘We recognise circumstances will vary in different locations across Sudan, so we are now asking British nationals to exercise their own judgment about their circumstances, including whether to relocate, but they do so at their own risk.’
Mr Mitchell emphasised that a ceasefire was the best way to guarantee the safety of British nationals.
He said: ‘Ending the violence is the single most important action we can take to guarantee the safety of British nationals and everyone in Sudan.
‘The Prime Minister (Rishi Sunak), the Foreign Secretary (James Cleverly), the Secretary of State for Defence (Ben Wallace) and I have been in continuous contact with allies and with key regional partners since the outbreak of violence to agree a joint approach to both evacuation and de-escalation of violence.’
The Government said this afternoon it is pursuing ‘all diplomatic avenues’ in removing British nationals.
The PM’s spokesperson said: ‘We continue to look at all possible options to get British nationals out of the country should they wish to leave.
All ‘diplomatic avenues’ including in Sudan and with neighbouring countries are being pursued, Downing Street added.
‘A ceasefire is one of our priorities,’ the spokesperson said.
Number 10 said it is working ‘together’ with EU countries and the US on the ‘shared challenges’ in Sudan.
A spokesperson said: ‘We are working with EU countries, we are working with the US, we are working with other allies in the region on how we can work together given these are all shared challenges.
‘So, those conversations will continue.’
The rescue mission to remove diplomats swiftly from Sudan was ‘informed by lessons learned’ from the Afghanistan evacuation, Downing Street has said.
They added: ‘It’s been a very fast-moving and complex situation. I think, as demonstrated over the weekend, we moved very swiftly in what was very challenging circumstances to safely evacuate the diplomats from Sudan.
‘Part of that has been informed by lessons learned from previous situations including Afghanistan.’
There are understood to be around 4,000 British passport holders in Sudan, and the UK could ask allies to help its citizens.
James Heappey, the armed forces minister, said the military was working on a range of options to present to the prime minister as pressure mounts on the government to act.
British forces extracted all British diplomats and their families from the city during a daring weekend raid.
Mr Heappey said: ‘But of course the job isn’t done.
‘Work is under way in this building and has been all weekend and all of the back end of last week to give the prime minister and Cobra [the emergency committee meeting of top ministers and officials] options for what else could be done to support the wider community of British nationals in Sudan.
‘Those options are being developed at pace.
‘The prime minister will be given the option to take any of the options that we present him with as and when they arise and that’s been the rhythm of things all weekend long.’
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