Sudan Crisis: Fourth Aircraft With 128 Indians Arrives In Jeddah As Fighting Continues Despite Ceasefire

Fighting continued in Sudan despite a 72-hour ceasefire in place. The crisis is leading to lack of basic supplies including food and clean water.

Fourth IAF C-130J arrived in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah today with 128 Indians as fighting continued between amid a power struggle between the leaders of the army and the rival Rapid Support Forces., said Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan. “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,” he tweeted. 

A total of 670 Indians have been flown out of Sudan with 360 reaching their homeland. 

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.

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 which 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 creeped 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.