The United States military has disclosed its readiness to evacuate the US embassy in Sudan. This decision was confirmed by Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, on Saturday April 22, 2023.

According to Austin, the Joe- Biden led administration has concluded a plan to withdraw personnel from the country’s increasingly volatile capital, Khartoum.

Fighting intensifies between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Force, RSF, as the death toll rises in the country.

Two US officials said a decision on whether to evacuate the embassy is expected soon, but it is unclear whether a public announcement will be made.

Also, the White House said on Friday that there were no plans for a broader evacuation of thousands of other Americans from the African country where warring factions are engaging in a violent conflict.

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On Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on the commanders of warring parties — the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Security Forces (RSF) — to lay down their weapons this weekend in honor of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, and he reiterated that call on Friday.

An estimated 16,000 private US citizens are registered as being in Sudan with the US Embassy in Khartoum, the capital.

The State Department has, however, warned that the figure is likely to be inaccurate because there is no requirement for Americans to register or notify the embassy when they leave.

Earlier on Friday, the State Department confirmed the death of one U.S. citizen in the country.

Other countries and the United Nations are also looking at how they can evacuate citizens and employees as the conflict between Sudan’s military and a rival paramilitary force gets worse.

Hundreds have died so far, and a country reliant on food aid has been thrown into what the UN calls a humanitarian disaster.

In a news statement, Elsadig Elnour, Islamic Relief’s country director in Sudan has called for “parties to the conflict to agree safe routes to evacuate injured people.”

“Hospitals need urgent support. Most hospitals in Khartoum are no longer functioning and several hospitals have been bombed and shot at. Others have run out of fuel and cannot function. Those still open are crowded with injured people and running out of medicine and supplies. They don’t even have enough bandages,” Elnour said.

“Lots of injured people can’t even reach hospital as the streets are too dangerous as the fighting spreads into more residential areas. We urgently need the parties to the conflict to agree safe routes to evacuate injured people and enable aid agencies to support people.”