As situation continues to be volatile in strife torn Sudan, India has commenced its evacuation process named “Operation Kaveri” and 500 Indians have reached Port Sudan. France has evacuated five Indians along with citizens of 27 other countries as part of its evacuation mission from the African nation. Saudi Arabia had evacuated at least three Indians with people of other nationalities on Sunday.
“Operation Kaveri is underway to bring back our citizens stranded in Sudan. About 500 Indians have reached Port Sudan while more are on their way. Our ships and aircraft are set to bring them back home. We are committed to assisting all our brethren in Sudan,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted on Monday on evacuation process of Indians in Sudan. Over 3,000 Indians are living in Sudan.
India has deployed two C-130 J transport aircraft in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and an Indian Navy ship INS Sumedha reached Port Sudan early Sunday for evacuation of Indian nationals. The airport in Khartoum, Sudan, is closed as heavy fighting is taking place around it.
The evacuation comes days after Jaishankar held talks with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Both countries had assured their “practical support on the ground”.
Meanwhile, the French embassy in New Delhi said on Monday 388 people from 28 countries, including India, were evacuated. “French evacuation operations are underway. Last night, two military flight rotations evacuated 388 people of 28 countries, including Indian nationals,” it tweeted.
Five Indian nationals were evacuated from Sudan through French Air Force flight and were brought to France’s military base in Djibouti along with people of over 28 other nationalities, French diplomatic sources said. Three flights have brought approximately 500 evacuees to Djibouti, they added.
On Sunday, Saudi Arabia said it has evacuated from Sudan 66 citizens from “brotherly and friendly” foreign countries that included a few Indian nationals.People familiar with the matter said in New Delhi that Saudi Arabia evacuated three Indians, who were part of the crew of a Saudi flight and stuck in Sudanese Capital Khartoum.
Sudan has been witnessing deadly fighting between the country’s army and a paramilitary group for the last 11 days that has reportedly left around 400 people dead.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday said the Government is making all out efforts to ensure safety and security of Indians stranded in Sudan.
“We are closely monitoring the complex and evolving security situation in Sudan. We are also coordinating closely with various partners for the safe movement of those Indians who are stranded in Sudan and would like to be evacuated. Apart from the Sudanese authorities, the MEA and the Indian embassy in Sudan are also in regular touch with the UN, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and US among others.”
“As part of our preparations, and in order to move swiftly, the Government of India is pursuing multiple options. Two Indian Air Force C-130J are currently positioned on standby in Jeddah. And, INS Sumedha has reached Port Sudan. Contingency plans are in place but any movement on the ground would depend on the security situation, which continues to be volatile with reports of fierce fighting at various locations in Khartoum. Sudanese airspace currently remains closed for all foreign aircraft. Overland movement also has risks and logistical challenges.”
“Our Embassy is in regular touch with the stranded Indians in Sudan and is advising them on the viability of safe movement and the need to avoid unnecessary risk. It is also coordinating all possible assistance including possible exit from Khartoum city as and when the security situation permits safe movement,” the MEA said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said all US personnel and their families were evacuated and operations at the US embassy in Khartoum have been “temporarily suspended.” Diplomats of several Western countries like the US, UK, Sweden and France were evacuated by their Governments in the past hours.
