British Citizen Shot by Snipers, Wife Dies of Starvation in Sudan as Evacuation Pleas Ignored

Desperate Pleas Ignored: British Couple’s Tragic Ordeal in Sudan

Amid the ongoing turmoil in Sudan, a harrowing story unfolds as an 85-year-old British citizen, Abdullah Shalagmi, was shot by snipers, while his 80-year-old disabled wife, Alawiya Rashwan, succumbed to starvation after being left stranded in Sudan without intervention from the British Foreign Office for their evacuation.

Stranded in the Midst of Chaos

Abdullah Shalagmi, a London hotel owner, and his wife, Alawiya Rashwan, resided near the British diplomatic base in Khartoum. Despite their proximity to the diplomatic premises, the couple allegedly received no support to leave Sudan. Shockingly, they were instructed to travel to an airport located 25 miles (40 km) outside of Khartoum, passing through a dangerous war zone, in order to board an evacuation flight.

Tragically, faced with dire hunger and a lack of water, Shalagmi had no choice but to leave his wife behind to seek assistance. During his absence, he fell victim to sniper fire, sustaining three gunshot wounds—his hand, chest, and lower back. Miraculously, he survived the attack and was transferred to a different area of Khartoum to receive medical treatment from a family member.

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Neglected by the British Foreign Office

The family asserts that Shalagmi’s wife was left to fend for herself in an area besieged by snipers, ultimately succumbing to starvation. They blame the British embassy for their neglect, as it was within their power to prevent this tragedy from befalling the elderly couple.

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Azhar, Shalagmi’s granddaughter who grew up in Khartoum, passionately stated that what happened to her grandparents was a crime against humanity, not only by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army but also by the British embassy, as they held the responsibility to protect their citizens.

Shalagmi managed to escape to Egypt, where he is currently undergoing medical treatment after enduring surgery without anesthesia, performed by his son who is a doctor. The British Foreign Office expressed its deep sorrow over the distressing case.

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