New Delhi: ‘Operation Kaveri’ has been started by the Central Government to bring back Indian citizens trapped in war-torn Sudan. Around 500 Indians have reached the Sudan port, while more civilians are on the way. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar gave this information through a tweet. He said, ‘Our ships and aircraft are ready to bring them back home. We are fully committed to helping all our brothers in Sudan.
Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs had told that India has kept two C-130J military transport aircraft ready to fly in Jeddah and an Indian Navy ship has reached an important port in the region. Giving details about this, the Ministry of External Affairs said that contingency plans have been kept ready for the safe evacuation of Indians, but any activity on the ground will depend on the security situation.
Talked to various partners for safe evacuation of Indians
The Ministry of External Affairs had said that India is making every effort to ensure the safety of Indians trapped in Sudan. “We are closely monitoring the complex and evolving security situation in Sudan,” the ministry said, adding, “We are closely coordinating with various partners for the safe evacuation of Indians stranded in and seeking to leave Sudan.” The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Sudan are in regular touch with the Sudanese authorities, including the United Nations, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, and the US, among others.
Violence in Sudan killed 420 people, injured thousands
The WHO on Sunday retweeted a post by Sudan’s health ministry which said at least 420 people had been killed and 3,700 wounded in the fighting so far. In a separate statement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that all US personnel and their families have been safely evacuated and operations at the US Embassy in Khartoum have been “temporarily suspended”. Significantly, on April 15, violence broke out in Sudan’s capital Khartoum and other areas of Sudan between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and deputy rival Mohammed Hamdan Daglo. The powerful paramilitary commands the Rapid Support Force.
