The Indian government announced the relocation of its embassy from Khartoum to Port Sudan on Wednesday, citing the worsening security condition and attacks in the capital city. However, the External Affairs Ministry release highlighted that it will keep a close watch on the developments and reassess the situation in a timely manner.
Operation Kaveri
Of the 3,400 nationals registered to be staying in Sudan, India has successfully rescued 3,000 citizens since the fighting broke out between the rival military forces in the African nation, forcing countries to conduct evacuations via Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
According to Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, 328 Indians landed in New Delhi last night. Another flight with 231 evacuees landed in Ahmedabad earlier in the morning. According to Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, of the 231 rescued, 208 were Gujarat residents, while 10 were from Rajasthan, and the remaining 13 were from Punjab.
328 more passengers have landed in New Delhi. #OperationKaveri moving steadily forward as around 3000 have reached India now. pic.twitter.com/sHSbEIXsws
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 2, 2023
Thus far, India has rescued its nationals from Port Sudan in 20 batches, bringing them to Jeddah aboard the Air Force’s C-130J. Until Tuesday, Indian authorities have deployed ten flights to get its citizens from Jeddah to India in military and commercial aircraft.
While reports suggest that India has also rescued nationals from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal and brought them to Jeddah, the exact details of the number of evacuations remain unclear.
Ceasefire in Sudan
Meanwhile, Sudan remains at risk of worsening security, even as the two warring sides declared a temporary ceasefire last week. Fighting continues between the military and paramilitary forces, with the two groups accusing each other of violations.
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) May 3, 2023
India's Operation Kaveri from Sudan:
-Indians evacuted: 3195
-Registered persons: 3400
-First Evacuation from Khartoum: 23th April
-First Evacuation from Port Sudan: 25th April
-MEA team arrive at Port Sudan: 25th April pic.twitter.com/LL86ZdJaPh
Last week, the two factions agreed to a seven-day ceasefire that began on Thursday. Nevertheless, experts say that the ceasefires have been conditional.
Abdou Dieng, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the UN in Sudan, said the conflict has worsened Sudan’s humanitarian crisis into a “full-blown catastrophe.”
The crisis has resulted in over 100,000 people fleeing from the war-torn country, which has entered the third week of fighting. The escalating violence has also caused risked a refugee crisis in neighbouring countries.