Chinese navy ships sent to rescue citizens from conflict-hit Sudan have also evacuated nationals from five other countries, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

Multiple nations have scrambled to evacuate embassy staff and citizens by road, air and sea from Sudan, where fighting between the army and paramilitaries has killed hundreds and led to acute shortages of water, food, medicines and fuel.

Rescue operations have intensified since a 72-hour ceasefire took effect on Tuesday.

But some fighting was reported around Sudan on Thursday, as well as air strikes in the capital Khartoum.

"So far, more than 1,300 Chinese citizens have been safely evacuated," the ministry’s spokesperson Mao Ning said.

She said many had left Sudan on board Chinese naval vessels.

"We have helped citizens of five countries to evacuate Sudan on Chinese ships," Mao said, adding: "Other countries have also asked for China's assistance in evacuation."

China has deployed the guided missile destroyer Nanning and another supply ship with 490 military personnel on board to assist with the evacuation, broadcaster CCTV reported.

It is the third time that the navy has sent warships to carry out an evacuation mission abroad, following rescue operations in Libya in 2011 and Yemen in 2015.

A video clip released by the navy shows an officer boarding a vessel carrying a toddler and other evacuees waving national flags.

The first batch of 678 people evacuated by the Chinese team arrived safely at a port in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, by ship on Thursday morning, CCTV said.

China says it is Sudan's largest trading partner, with more than 130 companies investing there by mid-2022.

The Foreign Ministry had said on Monday it estimated about 1,500 of its nationals were in Sudan.

The fighting has killed at least 512 people and wounded more than 4,000, according to Sudan's health ministry, and reduced some districts of greater Khartoum to ruins.

UN agencies reported Sudanese civilians fleeing the fighting to countries including Chad, Egypt and South Sudan. (AFP)
______________________________
Last updated: 2023-04-27 HKT 21:03