On Friday, a C-17 heavy-lift aircraft of the Indian Air Force brought back 392 people from strife-torn Sudan as part of the government’s mission to evacuate stranded Indians. This marks the third batch of Indians to be brought back home from the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, where India has set up a transit camp for the evacuees.
The Indians are being brought back home in either commercial flight or IAF’s aircraft from Jeddah. India has set up separate control rooms in Jeddah, Port Sudan, and the Indian embassy in Khartoum, which have been coordinating with each other, besides being in touch with the MEA’s headquarters in Delhi.
Sudan has been witnessing deadly fighting between the country’s army and a paramilitary group, which has reportedly left around 400 people dead. In such a situation, the Indian government’s efforts to evacuate its citizens are commendable.
The Indian government has been consistently monitoring the situation in Sudan and has taken swift action to ensure the safety of its citizens. Recently, the Indian embassy in Khartoum issued a travel advisory, asking Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Sudan until further notice.
The embassy has also set up a 24×7 helpline to assist Indian nationals in Sudan, and its officials have been in touch with Indian community leaders to ensure their safety and security.
The evacuation mission has been a massive operation involving multiple agencies and departments, including the Indian Air Force, Ministry of External Affairs, and Indian missions abroad.
This is not the first time the Indian government has conducted such a large-scale evacuation mission. In the past, India has successfully evacuated its citizens from war-torn countries like Libya, Yemen, and Iraq.
The efforts of the Indian government to ensure the safe return of its citizens from Sudan are commendable and demonstrate its commitment to the welfare of its people.