A Manchester medic trapped in war-torn Sudan has safely evacuated the African nation, according to reports.
Dr Abdulrahman Babiker was visiting relatives in Sudan for Eid earlier this month when vicious fighting broke out. The doctor, who has worked at Manchester Royal Infirmary for the past four years, attempted to fly home earlier this week.
However, he was stopped at Wadi Seidna air base following a 16-hour queue, with soldiers telling him Home Office guidance meant only British passport holders could be evacuated. The BBC and Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell have pushed for the doctor to be allowed on a flight.
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Last night, it appeared that Dr Babiker would be allowed home — but the picture was not clear. Ms Powell tweeted: “Although I have literally just received an email from the home office to say he is not eligible for evacuation … still way too much confusion about these cases and more discretion should be applied.”
However, this morning, BBC Radio Manchester said on social media that Dr Babiker’s flight had safely left Sudan. “Dr Babiker, who works at MRI, has now arrived in Cyprus,” the radio station reported.
The news brings to an end a saga which left the doctor ‘disappointed’. "To be honest I feel totally betrayed,” he told BBC’s Newsnight. “I worked throughout Covid and I'm so disappointed.
“I'd be more than happy to wait for other people to be evacuated before me, but to not have any chance to be evacuated in this very risky situation is...I'm really feeling disappointed."
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