Evacuations underway amid S. Sudan cease-fire

More than 210 Chinese have been evacuated from South Sudan since the cease-fire declared by President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar on Monday, after five days of clashes that left more than 300 dead, including two Chinese UN peacekeepers.

The evacuations began on Tuesday with planes reserved to pick up stranded Chinese, most of whom are employed by Chinese firms engaged in infrastructure, oil production and other service projects in South Sudan. On Tuesday, 50 Chinese, and on Wednesday 160 Chinese were taken to nearby countries such as Kenya and Uganda to catch connecting flights to China.

One-way air ticket prices soared to $1,000 per person, according to evacuees. Normally, round-trip tickets cost no more than $700.