No Indian will be left behind says MEA on Sudan crisis

No Indian will be left behind in conflict-hit Sudan, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said on Thursday.

He made the statement while also admitting that the situation on the ground was volatile. While the control rooms were constantly monitoring the situation in Sudan since the conflict began on April 15, he said that 24/7 control rooms have been set up to provide information and assistance to the Indians who are stranded there.

"Our focus has been to take out the Indians from the conflict zones to safer areas as soon as possible and then to bring them back home,"Kwatra said.

The foreign secretary also added that India's estimate is that there are approximately 3,500 Indians and 1,000 PIOs in Sudan. The third naval ship-INS Tarkash has also reached Port Sudan to evacuate Indians from Sudan.

While referring to the mission undertaken by India, he said, ' 367 Indians have arrived at the Delhi airport on a special flight from Jeddah, the Saudi port city where they had arrived from Port Sudan. He also thanked Saudi Arabia for all the cooperation and assistance in the evacuation process.

India on Monday launched 'Operation Kaveri' to bring back the Indians stranded in Sudan. The African nation is witnessing intense clashes between the military and paramilitary forces.

Kwatra said that India is receiving requests for evacuation of citizens from other nations as well. "We have received requests for the evacuation of citizens of other countries from Sudan. This is subject to the fulfilment of the procedures," he said.