According to the foreign secretary, the United Kingdom will no longer conduct air evacuations in Sudan and will instead increase humanitarian assistance.
James Cleverly warned that ongoing conflict is likely to impede future relief efforts.
The country is in its third week of fighting, and thousands of people have fled since the conflict began.
British support continues in Port Sudan, from which the remaining British citizens can depart.
Last month, fighting broke out between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as they fought for control of the nation, with the capital Khartoum at the epicenter of the conflict.
Since fighting broke out on 15 April, more than 100,000 people have escaped the country, according to the United Nations. And another 334,000 have been displaced within Sudan.
Officials warn of an “all-out catastrophe” if violence does not cease immediately.
Last week, a negotiated, short-term ceasefire permitted British evacuation flights to depart from an airstrip near Khartoum beginning on Tuesday, provided the tenuous ceasefire held.
Monday at 16:30 GMT, the United Kingdom evacuated 2,197 persons from Sudan. The United Kingdom’s operation was characterized as the “longest and largest airlift” by any Western nation.
Two additional evacuation flights carrying primarily British nationals set off from Port Sudan on the Red Sea on Monday evening.
The latest armistice was scheduled to expire at midnight on Sunday. But the RSF announced that it had been extended by three days.
Mr. Cleverly stated on the Today program, “We have conducted a comprehensive evacuation operation that… is ongoing.”
But I believe we’ve completed the preponderance of our tasks there.
The foreign secretary characterized the situation in Sudan as “evolving”, with the United Kingdom maintaining a presence in Port Sudan – both consular and military, in the form of the Royal Navy warship HMS Lancaster – to assist remaining British nationals and their dependents.
Before the conflict, the United Kingdom was a humanitarian partner of Sudan. And it will continue to provide “ongoing support” in collaboration with “the United Nations and other international partners.”
Mr. Cleverly said the UK was “in close cooperation with leaders in the region and beyond” to extend the truce. “We must assess the circumstances and our ability to provide that support,” he added.
“Where there is an active conflict, our capacity to provide humanitarian aid is drastically diminished,” he continued.
He stated that the United Kingdom would “continue to push for… a permanent end to the conflict because that is the best way to maximize the effectiveness of our humanitarian support,” but cautioned that “the nature and scale of our assistance will depend heavily on the situation on the ground.”
Migration measure
The foreign secretary stated that provisions for “safe and legal” routes were included in the Illegal Migration Bill, which is currently before the House of Lords, in response to a question about how the United Kingdom would likely cope with an influx of Sudanese refugees.
The nature of these routes has yet to be determined, according to Mr. Cleverly. “I would also like to emphasize that the Sudan is not the only active conflict in the globe.
“Unfortunately, millions of people, many millions of people, reside in conflict-ridden nations. And the nature and scope of our support for refugees must be determined holistically.
“We cannot only concentrate on Sudan.”
He has expressed opposition to the proposals in the past.
“Of course, no one would want such a facility in their district, but the point I’m making is that the legislation we’re proposing will reduce the need for such facilities.”
According to him, the Illegal Immigration Bill will expedite the processing of migrants.
Tuesday, Labour leader Keir Starmer told that the creation of safe routes for those escaping Sudan is a “discussion we need to have… sooner rather than later.”
