Cleverly urged to allow evacuation of NHS doctors trapped in Sudan

Estimated 24 medics being prevented from joining airlift despite having visas as they have no UK passports

Doctors’ groups have urged the foreign secretary, James Cleverly, to allow the evacuation of NHS medics trapped in Sudan who are being prevented from joining the British airlift because they do not have UK passports.

The British Medical Association said the UK should take advantage of the extension of the ceasefire overnight to allow the estimated 24 NHS doctors with work visas to leave a country at risk of descending into full-scale civil war between the Sudanese army and its paramilitary rival, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).