The Department of Foreign Affairs is putting plans in place to evacuate 125 Irish citizens from Sudan.
Hundreds of people have been killed, as fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary RSF group continue.
Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin says he's "deeply concerned", and is seeking assistance from international partners to evacuate Irish citizens.
Independent TD and former Army Ranger, Cathal Berry says decades of under-resourcing have left us dependant on the kindness of strangers:
"We've got great people in the Aer Corps in Baldonnel, but unfortunately due to decades of under resourcing, we've got a very small aircraft, but to move down towards Africa, you'd probably need a larger aircraft and that's why partnering with the likes of France or Germany or the UK would be a necessity as well. Unfortunately that's the state of play, it's very much dependent on the kindness of strangers to get our people there, to get our people home."
