Muscat – The conflict in Sudan has displaced hundreds of thousands of people as they try to reach safe borders. While a few Sudanese residents of Oman have been able to return to the sultanate, there are many who are praying the war in Sudan ends soon so they can return to their adopted country.

The fighting – which began on April 15 – arose from a bitter power struggle between the leaders of Sudan’s regular army and a rival paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Due to the situation, many Sudanese residents of the sultanate have not been able return to Oman.

Muscat Daily spoke to a few Sudanese expatriates, who said their families are stuck back home but they are hopeful of their early return. Abu Tibian said that many of his countrymen working in the sultanate are still stuck back home. “My family – wife and four children – are in Sudan. I thank God that they were able to leave the conflict zone in the capital Khartoum. We are now communicating with the Sudanese Embassy in the sultanate for their return soon.”

He wished that the Arab countries cooperate and push “for an end to the deadly conflict so that peace and security can prevail again throughout Sudan”.

Another Sudanese resident Ahmed said his wife and daughter went on a vacation to Sudan and have not been able to return. He described the situation in the country as still worrying as danger lurks everywhere. “I am in touch with the Sudanese community and the Sudanese Embassy in Oman to help them return soon.”

He appealed to all the countries surrounding Sudan, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, “to help our families and friends who are stuck in Sudan and for peace to prevail between the warring factions”.

An official at the Sudanese Embassy in the sultanate said it, in cooperation with the Sudanese community in Muscat, formed a committee to find out the number of people stuck in Sudan, following which it contacted the Omani Embassy in Khartoum to evacuate the stranded.

“The embassy has already succeeded in evacuating some of the stranded and bring them to Oman. Now, the embassy in cooperation with the embassies of Ethiopia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, is arranging the return of more than 560 people soon to Oman. These include employees and families residing in the sultanate.”

Meanwhile, at least 334,000 people have become internally displaced in Sudan since fighting broke out, according to the UN.