96 Italians have returned from Sudan, aboard two planes that landed yesterday evening at Ciampino airport . Waiting for them on the runway was Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
Nightmare ended therefore for our compatriots who found themselves in the midst of a civil war that is devastating the African country, especially the capital Khartoum.
Signs of ok and greeting gestures on landing: "Everything is fine, we're fine," they said.
« Happy and proud to welcome our compatriots returning from Sudan . Humanitarian, diplomatic and military operators who have once again done Italy a credit with commitment and dedication. Thanks to the Crisis Unit, the Ministry of Defense and Palazzo Chigi», commented Tajani.
“A release. I was a little scared but I'm happy to be home, thank you all for your efforts. I don't know if I would go back to Sudan », said Costanza Matafù , 34, from Messina, who had just gotten off the flight that arrived at Ciampino. " We have seen death around us - added the girl - but now we are safe. It is very dangerous there. We heard bombs and gunfire. I didn't expect that. We had heard of soldiers but we didn't think this would happen. We are shocked, we have never had such an experience."
Anna, on the other hand, had lived in Khartoum "for a lifetime - she says - an indescribable situation. I am very sad for those who remain. We were helped by the embassy, it wasn't difficult. We have an Italian restaurant there, part of our house was hit. So we turned to the embassy, they helped us ».
"It all happened in a few hours," says Francesco Cirelli, a 74-year-old Roman , retired from the oil sector. He lived in Khartoum in the Kafuri district with his doctor wife. He also finds the strength to joke: «The camp in Djibouti seemed like a holiday village». Francis reports a " feeling of danger, you hear the shots nearby, and then bombs, planes, anti-aircraft fire... I contacted the embassy on a special number. It was already closed, along with other strategic points such as the presidential palaces. Most of the fire was there."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that warring generals in Sudan had agreed to a three-day ceasefire starting at midnight today , after previous offers to end the conflict quickly fell through. “Following intense negotiations over the past 48 hours, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have agreed to implement a nationwide ceasefire effective from midnight on April 24, for a duration of 72 hours,” he said.
(Unioneonline/L)