Geeta MohanFrench diplomatic sources said that five Indians have so far been evacuated by France from conflict-hit Sudan. it comes after days Saudi Arabia announces safe evacuation of foreign nationalsFrom the country, including Indians.
An A400M aircraft that took off from the French military base in Djibouti rescued the Indians, sources said, adding that three flights have been operated so far, evacuating around 500 people from over 28 countries.
Read this also | Amid Sudan crisis, a look at India’s heroic missions that helped rescue civilians from war zones
India has launched Operation Cauvery To evacuate its citizens from violence-hit Sudan. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted that the rescue operation is on and around 500 Indians have reached Port Sudan on Monday.
On Saturday, the Saudi foreign ministry said it had evacuated 91 stranded foreign nationals, including 66 from friendly countries, including India. After the operation, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Both countries promised “practical support on the ground”.
In Sudan, the army and paramilitary forces are waging a deadly power struggle. The violence was triggered by disagreements over an internationally supported plan to form a new civilian government four years after the fall of the autocrat, Omar al-Bashir, and two years after a military coup. Both sides accused each other of thwarting the transition.
Read this also | Fighting in Sudan kills more than 400, countries speed up evacuation as foreign nationals wounded in conflict