Harare (New Ziana) – The first group of 44 Zimbabwean nationals evacuated from Sudan is expected in the country on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has said.

In an update, the ministry said the second batch of the evacuees was expected to arrive home on Saturday.

The east African country has been torn by civil strife after fighting broke out between two rival armies over a week ago.

Hundreds have been killed and thousands others injured, prompting foreign governments to send rescue missions to bring out their nationals.

“The Ministry will be receiving the first group of evacuees (44) from Sudan at Robert Mugabe International Airport today, Friday at 1700 hours, and a second group of 21 on Saturday at the same time, airline and venue. They are arriving from Jeddah aboard Emirates Airlines,” the ministry said.

The fighting, concentrated in the capital Khartoum, has displaced hundreds of thousands of Sudanese civilians, some to neighbouring countries.

New Ziana