342 evacuess arrive in Kenya from Sudan

Among the 342 are Kenyan nationals, staff attached to United Nations and other agencies, Diplomatic Corps and International and Regional Organizations accredited to Nairobi.

The ministry said in a statement on Thursday that the lot's journey was spearheaded by a multi-agency team that facilitated their entry, departure, transit, and movement within Kenya.

" [They] arrived from Khartoum through the port of Sudan by ferry to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where they were flown in two aircraft," read part of the statement.

The team was received by Cooperatives Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

Joining CS Chelugui was Diaspora Affairs PS Roseline Njogu.

"The C.S. reiterated Kenya's commitment to ensuring the safe return of all Kenyans and other nationals that wish to return from  Sudan to Kenya," added the statement.

The lot is the second one to jet into Kenya after 39 students arrived in Nairobi on Tuesday aboard a military plane.

Their arrival came just hours before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the warring Sudanese factions had agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire.

Blinken said the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) followed intense 48-hour negotiation.

The ceasefire would start at midnight on April 24.

RSF said in a statement that it had agreed to the truce “in order to open humanitarian corridors, facilitate the movement of citizens and residents, enable them to fulfil their needs, reach hospitals and safe areas, and evacuate diplomatic missions.”

In the war that has played out in the Sudanese capital Khartoum since April 15, forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan have been confronting those of his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the RSF.

At least 427 people had been confirmed killed and more than 3,700 wounded, the AFP news agency reported on Monday, quoting UN agencies.