On Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) provided an update on the emergency plan to evacuate Indian people trapped in Sudan’s war-torn capital, Khartoum. According to the report, India has stationed two C-130J military transport aircraft in Jeddah on alert, and an Indian Navy ship has arrived in Port Sudan.
According to the MEA, the situation on the ground in Sudan is extremely “volatile,” with reports of severe fighting coming from many different sites in the nation’s capital Khartoum.
Giving out the details, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said contingency plans for the evacuation of Indians have been put in place but any movement on the ground would depend on the security situation.
“Two Indian Air Force C-130J are currently positioned on standby in Jeddah. And, INS Sumedha has reached Port Sudan,” it said.
According to the MEA, “Contingency plans are in place, but any movement on the ground would depend on the security situation, which is still tense amid reports of fierce fighting at several locations throughout Khartoum.”
On the evacuation effort for Indians trapped in Sudan, MEA said: “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.”
The foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia reported on Sunday that more than 150 individuals, including diplomats and officials from other countries, had been evacuated from Sudan and arrived in Jeddah.
It announced “safe arrival” of 91 Saudi citizens and around 66 nationals from 12 other countries including India. Citizens from Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, the Philipines, Canada and Burkina Faso have also been evacuated.
The MEA said India is making all-out efforts to ensure the safety and security of Indians stranded in Sudan. “We are closely monitoring the complex and evolving security situation in Sudan,” it said.
“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 MEA said.
Apart from the Sudanese authorities, the MEA and the Indian embassy in Sudan are also in regular touch with the UN, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and the US among others.
“As part of our preparations and in order to move swiftly, the Government of India is pursuing multiple options,” the MEA said.
It said the Sudanese airspace currently remained closed for all foreign aircraft and overland movement also has risks and logistical challenges
