Many now seek to join the flood of foreigners who have left Sudan in past days, including in evacuations organised by their governments. But the war that happened here was a great shock," said Mahmoud Suweidan, 33, who left Syria only last year looking for work. She fears her sons will be conscripted for use in further bouts of warfare, having left Syria in 2013. But most have so far remained stuck in Port Sudan. Their disappointment at being unable to join an evacuation and their temporary stay in uncomfortable conditions in Port Sudan follow a hard and dangerous journey.

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