'Betrayed' Manchester doctor 'finally given Sudan evacuation seat' - but MP says there's 'confusion'
manchestereveningnews.co.ukA Manchester Royal Infirmary doctor who felt ‘betrayed’ for being unable to board an evacuation flight from Sudan reportedly has a route out of the conflict — but an MP says there is ‘confusion’ in his case.
Dr Abdulrahman Babiker was visiting relatives in Sudan for Eid earlier this month when vicious fighting broke out between rival military factions over the future of the African country.
Once violence broke out, he sought safety by boarding a flight back to Britain. Due back on shift at MRI on Tuesday (April 25), Dr Babiker attempted to fly home but 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.
That led to Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central, to pick up his case with BBC Newsnight. READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community "To be honest I feel totally betrayed,” he told the programme. “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." Now, after the MP’s intervention, it appears the doctor has a seat home.
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