The family of a Mayo woman, who was caught up in the violence in Sudan, have said they are hopeful she and her family will get back to Ireland in the coming days.
Catherine and John McLoughlin were speaking after their daughter Kathy was airlifted from Khartoum.
After spending the weekend waiting for word from Sudan, Mr and Mrs McLoughlin got confirmation this morning that their daughter had been taken to safety in Djibouti.
The Irish-born teacher was working in Sudan, when violence broke out there.
Yesterday evening, she managed to flee the country, travelling with her husband and sons on board a military plane from the Sudanese capital.
Now, the family are trying to finalise plans for the next leg of their journey back to Ireland.
Communication between Mayo and east Africa has been sporadic in the last week but there is a huge sense of relief in Ballindine, in light of the latest developments.
"Not knowing was the worst but today seems to be a little bit brighter for us… as far as we are aware it was the French and Spanish that looked after them and brought them by plane to Djibouti," Mrs McLoughlin said.
"They're safe now, which is a wonderful relief."
Plans are already being made for the homecoming of their daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons.
"They don't understand the reality of the situation, as a seven and a four-year-old, but their parents have been trying to make them feel comfortable about all the change in their lives."
Mr McLoughlin spoke of the weight of worry being lifted from his shoulders, when word reached Mayo of the good outcome for his daughter this morning.
His focus is now on the coming days, and getting to see her and her family in the flesh once more.
"It will be a bit of excitement for us and great enjoyment. It will be great to see them," he said.
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'It looks like a ghost town'
An Irish citizen studying in Khartoum has described how conflict unfolded in recent days.
Abdullah's mother and sister were visiting him when the fighting broke out. They were trapped and couldn't get home.
Once safely on a bus out of the capital last night, he spoke to RTÉ's Morning Ireland about his experience over the past nine days.
"You would say it came all of a sudden, but at the same time, you knew there was tension between the two forces," he said.
"All of a sudden, like [you could] hear gunshots.
"Then the sounds start getting louder and louder, and then all of a sudden they started using air strikes, which is a first for us, which in Sudan has never occurred before."
Abdullah said it was at the point that people realised the situation is "much scarier than the previous situations that we had".
"We followed the instructions that the embassy gave us, which was to stay at home. And if there's any updates, they would let us know," he said.
Abdullah added that he had thought about moving to a location where family members were living outside the city, but then after hearing gunshots, explosions and airplanes, he reconsidered.
"It's a stressful situation. It's a very new situation for everybody. And this leaving everything behind, this taking small bags," he explained.
He explained that he received instructions from the Irish embassy in Kenya telling him to go to the French embassy in Khartoum.
"It's best for us to take that route, because at least if it's with the embassy, they're going to try their best to secure our safety," he said.
"So, when we arrived, they take your passport, they just write down your name and nationality.
"There is a bunch of European nationalities there. Different backgrounds - all the same story. Some of them were also very shocked with the short notice.
"Some of them didn't know what to do, but somehow figured it out."
Read more:
Tánaiste: Around 50 Irish citizens evacuated from Sudan
Sudan fighting triggers 'collapse of healthcare system'
He said that at the time of interview, he was on a bus and thinks he will now be going to a military airport for evacuation but added that he was not sure.
"Fortunately, right now on the buses, we see armed forces, but not like Sudanese armed forces," Abdullah said.
He believes these people are French forces patrolling the area and being cover for the buses "and making sure everything's alright, instructing the bus drivers what to do".
"So, right now, you look out the window and it looks like a ghost town, which is not a sight that we're really used to," he said.
"But you feel like an ounce of safety."
He said he is happy with the contact that was made by the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding his evacuation.
"I'm very happy. You knew the situation was difficult for them and you would realise that they were trying.
He said that the department emailed him with a message that read "we are supporting you. If there's anything you need or any way we can assist you, just let us know".
"Personally, I did appreciate that," Abdullah said.
"They kept us in the loop and told us what they were doing. Even they say that they have very limited powers in Sudan since they don't have a diplomatic mission here.
"They still figure out a way to take us to safety hopefully."
