New Delhi: India has been coordinating closely with various countries to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals in Sudan, sources told ABP Live, amid large-scale violence in the Sudanese capital Khartoum.
According to sources, "In New Delhi, we have set up a dedicated Control Room. We are in continuous touch with our Embassy in Khartoum and are getting regular reports of the status of the Indian community. The Embassy in turn is in touch with the community and individuals through multiple methods including WhatsApp groups."
A dispute between the Army and the para-military over a proposed timeline for handing over power to a civilian government has led to clashes between the heavily armed supporters of the two groups for the last six days that have reportedly left over 200 people dead.
The sources said that the situation in the country is very tense and movement is very risky at this stage.
They said that India's priority is the safety of movement and well-being of individuals wherever they are located.
"The Quartet countries of the US, UK, Saudi Arabia and UAE have a key role and we are engaging them accordingly," they said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has already spoken to his counterparts in Saudi Arabia and the UAE and both countries have assured their support on the ground.
"Our Ambassador in Washington DC and High Commissioner in London are in touch with their respective host Governments. We are also working with the UN, which has a substantial presence in Sudan," according to sources.
The sources said the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian embassy in the Sudanese capital Khartoum are continuously monitoring the situation in the African country.
"Concerns of safety and security constrain us from putting out specific details," the source cited above said.
Tanks, artillery and other heavy weapons are being used by the fighters in densely populated areas causing millions of people to remain confined inside their houses.
At least 270 people have been killed and more than 2,600 injured since the fighting erupted between the two sides, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) officials citing Sudan’s Ministry of Health Emergency Operations Center.