Sida’s staff who have been stationed in Sudan have now landed in Sweden. Ulf Källstig, head of the Africa department at Sida, received them. – It was one of the most fantastic Tuesday mornings of my life. The staff landed at Arlanda on Tuesday morning. All are well preserved and doing well considering the circumstances. – After a week or so of a tough situation for the colleagues, under shelling and during airstrikes. To be able to hug them here at Arlanda and that they are well kept. It is fantastic. But the staff don’t just think it’s positive to come home. – There are two parts to this. Since it is Sida’s staff, they work for the 45 million Sudanese who remain, who have fought for their democracy and freedom for several years, and now have suffered a setback. At the same time, it has been a tough couple of days for them, says Källstig. Now Sida is doing everything they can to try to help on the spot, and see which projects they can redirect so they can continue to help. – This will develop in the coming weeks. What has your staff been able to tell you about the fighting? – It is clear that not being able to move around the city and being locked in their houses has had an enormous impact. Fortunately, the colleagues are used and seasoned, so they have had food supplies and water supplies. But it is clear that it has been stressful and difficult. In such a situation, it is abnormal not to be afraid.
t4-general