Sudan Crisis: India In Touch With All Sides To Ensure Safety Of Citizens, Says Foreign Secy

Amid large-scale violence in Sudan, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Thursday said that around 600 Indians have been rescued so far from the conflict-hit African country.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra gives details on the evacuation of Indian citizens from conflict-hit Sudan ( Image Source :ANI )

New Delhi: Amid large-scale violence in Sudan, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Thursday said that around 600 Indians have been rescued so far from the conflict-hit African country.

Addressing a press conference regarding the rescue operations of Indian citizens from Sudan, Kwatra said, "We are constantly monitoring the situation in Sudan since the conflict began on April 15. Our estimate is that there are approximately 3500 Indians & 1000 PIOs in Sudan."

#WATCH | Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra gives details on the
evacuation of Indian citizens from conflict-hit Sudan#OperationKaveri pic.twitter.com/L6qYtCrVpO

— ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2023

"The third naval ship- INS Tarkash- has also reached Port Sudan today to evacuate Indians from Sudan," he said.

He added, "We have received requests for the evacuation of citizens of other countries from Sudan. This is subject to the fulfilment of the procedures."

On Wednesday night the first group of evacuees arrived in New Delhi from Jeddah in a commercial aircraft.

"India welcomes back its own. #OperationKaveri brings 360 Indian Nationals to the homeland as first flight reaches New Delhi," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted.

Another IAF C-130J flight under #OperationKaveri arrived at Jeddah with 128 Indians, the fourth aircraft from Sudan.

Efforts are on to ensure that all Indians, who arrived in Jeddah will be sent to India at the earliest. pic.twitter.com/KGoaNRb7mv

— V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) April 26, 2023

Meanwhile, the fourth IAF C-130J arrived in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah today with 128 Indians. “Another IAF C-130J flight under #OperationKaveri arrived at Jeddah with 128 Indians, the fourth aircraft from Sudan. Efforts are on to ensure that all Indians, who arrived in Jeddah will be sent to India at the earliest,” Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan, tweeted. 

Fighting Continues Despite Ceasefire

Fighting continued in parts of Sudan despite a 72-hour ceasefire. The ceasefire, which was due to expire on Friday, was extended by Sudan’s Army chief. As per a report by BBC, the fighting broke out near television and radio buildings in Omdurman, the city adjoining the capital Khartoum. The existing ceasefire began at Monday midnight (local time) bringing a pause to a conflict that erupted on 15 April amid a power struggle between the leaders of the army and the RSF.

The proposal from the regional African bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development for the ceasefire was initially approved by Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, reported Reuters. The proposal suggests sending envoys from the Sudanese army and rival group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to Juba in South Sudan to discuss the details.

Amid the fighting, the crisis for basic supplies like clean water and money has also crept up. 

As per the BBC report, There is no fuel and a lack of doctors, and people are struggling to access food and money.

People in Khartoum and Omdurman are finding it difficult to find clean water and food and access to cash, said a BBC correspondent in the conflict-ridden African nation.