​​​Operation Kaveri: Around 500 Indians have reached Port Sudan for evacuation, says MEA | India News

NEW DELHI: Operation Kaveri, to bring back Indians stranded in conflict-hit Sudan, is underway and 500 citizens have already reached Port Sudan and INS Sumedha will bring them back home, said external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Monday.

“Our ships and aircraft are set to bring them back home. We are committed to assisting all our brethren in Sudan,” tweeted Jaishankar on the evacuation process.

Describing the security situation in Sudan as complex and evolving, the Centre on Sunday had said it was pursuing multiple options to evacuate the 3,000 Indian citizens stuck in the country.

The MEA had said in a statement that India has positioned two IAF C-130J on standby in Jeddah and that Indian naval ship ‘Sumedha’ has reached Port Sudan.
Ship, aircraft deployed after PM high-level meet
India’s decision to deploy the Super Hercules military transport aircraft followed the high-level meeting PM Narendra Modi chaired on April 21 in which he asked officials to ready contingency evacuation plans. India had used the C-130J earlier also for Afghanistan evacuation.
“Government of India is making all-out efforts to ensure safety and security of Indians stranded 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,” said the foreign ministry, adding that apart from Sudanese authorities, India is also in contact with the UN, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and US among others.

Three Indians were evacuated by Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
On Monday, 5 Indian nationals were evacuated through French Air Force flight and were brought to France’s military base in Djibouti along with people of over 28 other nationalities.

Overland movement also has risks and logistical challenges, said the foreign ministry. “Contingency plans are in place but any movement on the ground would depend on the security situation, which continues to be volatile with reports of fierce fighting at various locations in Khartoum,” said the government.
The US military managed to airlift on Sunday close to 100 embassy staffers from Khartoum. Both Sudan army and its rival paramilitary force apparently agreed to not block the airlift. Agency reports from the region said the warring factions had agreed to allow evacuation of foreign nationals with UN’s assistance.

“Our Embassy is in regular touch with the stranded Indians in Sudan and is advising them on the viability of safe movement and the need to avoid unnecessary risk. It is also coordinating all possible assistance including possible exit from Khartoum city as and when the security situation permits safe movement,” it added.
Sudan is facing violence due to fighting between the army and the paramilitary forces. Fighting between two rival military factions – the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues in Sudan despite a 72-hour truce declared for Eid.
(With inputs from agencies)
Watch India intensifies efforts to evacuate Indians from Sudan, INS Sumedha arrives in Port Sudan