Chaos, gunfire, missiles: London, Ont., teen trapped in Sudan waits for evacuation
Teen, four children, among about 20 Londoners stuck in Sudan as violence mounts
As violence mounts in Sudan, hundreds of Canadians trapped in the country are in search of safety awaiting evacuation.
About 20 London, Ont., residents are among them — stuck in Khartoum, the country's capital, as conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues.
"We're hoping to get to leave as soon as possible. It's really unsafe," said Shahd Elkabashi, an 18-year-old former Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School student from London. "It's scary."
The past week has been filled with chaos, gunfire, falling missiles and people dying, she said.
"It's been a really hard situation to live through every day. It's really frightening," Elkabashi said. Gunfire and military aircrafts came close to her aunt's house Tuesday, where she is staying, leaving her family hiding under beds to protect themselves.
She is with her mother and four siblings, all younger than 13 years old, who attended Sir Arthur Currie Public School in London, she said.
"It's really hard to keep all these kids safe and keep them calm," she said. "They're young kids and hearing fire, hearing gunshots, hearing missiles, it's not easy for them. It's a really hard situation to be put in."
As of Tuesday, about 100 Canadians had escaped the violence in Sudan with the help of some European governments. At least 400 people have been killed in the conflict, and thousands more are injured.
Timeline for evacuation is still unclear
It's still unclear when her family will be evacuated, Elkabashi said. "We're not sure about time."
Elkabashi's family received an email from Global Affairs Tuesday morning, she said.
Her family is permanent residents, not yet Canadian citizens, and are concerned how that will impact evacuation plans, she said. MP Arielle Kayabaga's office confirmed by email to CBC News that permanent residents and their immediate family are being offered departure assistance.
Although they're really frightened, Elkabashi said they're still staying hopeful through this as what will happen remains uncertain.
"If we don't get evacuated by the Canadian government, we're going to have to take other [unsafe] routes like going to Egypt," she said.
"We don't want war, we want peace, and we want the best for our country."
'It's traumatizing for them'
Dafalla Yousif, president of London's Sudanese Canadian Community Association, said Londoners he's spoken to in Sudan are safe right now — but it's a scary experience.
"It is traumatizing for them. It is frightening for them," he said, adding the fighting has resulted in starvation, shortages, and no school. "Life has stopped totally."
Evacuations of Canadians will take place from a military airport outside the capital, but it's a challenge to get to the there, he said. Communicating with those in Sudan is becoming more difficult as the Internet is unreliable.
Sudanese associations from across Canada met with officials and were pleased with their response, said Yousif. He has submitted a list of Londoners to London West MP Arielle Kayabaga, who is following up with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"We do appreciate the the job they're doing now to help the stranded Sudanese Canadian in Sudan and we will follow up with them until every Canadian citizen make it home," said Yousif.
"It is really unpredictable, but let's hope for the best."
'It's all been very complicated,' says MP
"We're all trying to coordinate to see how to safely get Canadians out," said Kayabaga, adding there are 18 Sudanese-Canadians from London on the list.
"It's all been very complicated. But the good thing is there are multiple countries that are partnered with Canada to get this done and we look forward to having them home."
A safe passage has been negotiated with several countries in the region, including Kenya, Ethiopia and Egypt. Countries like Germany, France, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have helped evacuate Canadians from the region, according to Kayabaga.
"We are doing everything we can. There's no stone being left unturned," she said.
In the House of Commons Tuesday, foreign affairs minister Mélanie Joly said the situation is a "top priority," and noted 1,700 Canadians have been registered with the embassy in Sudan, and of them, 573 have asked for assistance. One hundred have already left the country.
LISTEN | London Morning checks in with Dafalla Yousif, the president of London's Sudanese Canadian Community Association:
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