India has launched a rescue effort, "Operation Kaveri" to evacuate its citizens from war-hit Sudan. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi revealed that the first batch of stranded Indians (278 individuals) were rescued from Sudan in INS Sumedha.
First batch of stranded Indians leave Sudan under #OperationKaveri.
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 25, 2023
INS Sumedha with 278 people onboard departs Port Sudan for Jeddah. pic.twitter.com/4hPrPPsi1I
External Affairs Minister S Jaisankar said that the Indian government is "committed to assisting all our brethren in Sudan." He informed that around 500 Indians have reached Port Sudan so far, while more are on their way. Port Sudan is situated 850 km away from Sudan’s capital city Khartoum. "Operation Kaveri gets underway to bring back our citizens stranded in Sudan," he wrote on Twitter.
Operation Kaveri gets underway to bring back our citizens stranded in Sudan.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 24, 2023
About 500 Indians have reached Port Sudan. More on their way.
Our ships and aircraft are set to bring them back home.
Committed to assist all our bretheren in Sudan. pic.twitter.com/8EOoDfhlbZ
Every Indian life matters!
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) April 24, 2023
Thank you PM @NarendraModi ji for prioritising the safety & security of Indians abroad.
With the deft handling by EAM @DrSJaishankar, #OperationKaveri will overcome all challenges and bring back our brothers & sisters from Sudan. pic.twitter.com/EQvTLG9NIs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi disclosed that the rescue operation is "overseen by the son of Kerala and the Minister of our government, Muraleedharan." He made this remark while addressing the Yuvam Conclave in Kochi recently.
Due to the civil war in Sudan, many of our people are stuck there. Therefore, we have started Operation Kaveri to bring them safely. It's being overseen by the son of Kerala and the Minister of our govt, Shri Muraleedharan.
— BJP (@BJP4India) April 24, 2023
- PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/OUtOFLVzGd
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday, April 23, 2023, revealed that they 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,” the ministry said in a statement. Two Indian Air Force C-130J have been positioned on standby in Jeddah and INS Sumedha has reached Port Sudan, the ministry revealed on Sunday.
Situation in Sudan
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 23, 2023
Press Release ➡️ https://t.co/0qLd7zcQLG pic.twitter.com/T9ITIEeYqV
As per data on the website of the Indian embassy in Khartoum, around 2,800 Indian nationals are in Sudan. Meanwhile, France has evacuated some Indian nationals along with citizens of 27 other countries. Sudanese airspace remains closed for all foreign aircraft, MEA revealed on Sunday.
#Sudan | French evacuation operations are under way. Last night, two military flight rotations evacuated 388 people of 28 countries, including Indian nationals. 🇫🇷🤝🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/CrXeOH9UmD
— French Embassy in India 🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@FranceinIndia) April 24, 2023
Sudan is facing a civil war due to a conflict between the country’s army and a paramilitary group. The two generals behind the conflict are Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, the head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The war broke out on April 15, 2023, costing the lives of over 427 individuals, including at least 273 civilians and over 3,700 wounded.
