342 Sudanese refugees arrive in Kenya.
Wednesday night, 342 Sudanese refugees arrived in Kenya, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Kenyan nationals, United Nations and other agency personnel, Diplomatic Corps, and International and Regional Organizations accredited in Nairobi are among the 342.
The ministry said in a statement on Thursday that a multi-agency team facilitated the group’s entry, departure, transit, and movement within Kenya.
A portion of the statement reads as follows: “Two aircraft flew them from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. To Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via the port of Sudan.”
Simon Chelugui, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), greeted the team at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Roseline Njogu, PS for Diaspora Affairs, joined CS Chelugui.
The statement continued, “The C.S. reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to ensuring the safe return of all Kenyans and other nationals who wish to return from Sudan to Kenya.”
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The group is the second to fly into Kenya after 39 students arrived in Nairobi on a military plane on Tuesday.
Their arrival occurred mere hours before the announcement by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. That the warring Sudanese factions had agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire.
According to Blinken, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) concluded 48 hours of intense negotiations.
The ceasefire would begin on April 24 at midnight.
RSF stated in a statement that it had agreed to the ceasefire “to open humanitarian corridors. Facilitate the movement of citizens and residents. Enable them to fulfill their needs, reach hospitals and safe areas, and evacuate diplomatic missions.”
Since April 15, forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan have conflicted with those of his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the RSF.
The AFP news agency reported on Monday, citing UN agencies, that at least 427 people had been confirmed killed. And over 3,700 injured.
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