'We Were Hungry, Looted by Forces': Indians Evacuated From Sudan Share Ordeal

India is evacuating its citizens under Operation Kaveri after a 72-hour truce was agreed between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) following intense negotiations.

Recalling his experience in Sudan, one of the Indians evacuated from the violence-hit country said he witnessed intense fighting between the two forces. “We were struggling for food. The scenario continued for 2-3 days,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.

Another Indian said that he along with others was looted at his company. “They kept us hostage for eight hours. They kept riffles at our chest and looted us. Our mobiles were stolen,” he said.

“We kept in touch with the Embassy and told them to arrange for the buses, as we had diesel. The Indian Navy came and treated us well,” the Indian national evacuated from Sudan said.

Sudan has been witnessing deadly fighting between the country’s army and a paramilitary group for the last 12 days that has reportedly left around 400 people dead.

Operation Kaveri

Under its evacuation mission ‘Operation Kaveri ‘ launched on Monday, India has set up a transit facility at Jeddah and all the Indians have been taken to the Saudi Arabian city after their evacuation from Sudan.

Two military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) evacuated over 250 Indians from Sudan after a naval ship rescued another 278 citizens from the strife-torn country.

The total number of Indians evacuated so far from Sudan stands at around 530, according to official data.

The first batch of 278 Indians was evacuated by Indian Navy’s frontline ship INS Sumedha on Tuesday.

Hours later, the first C130J heavy-lift transport aircraft of the IAF landed at Port Sudan to bring back more Indians. It was followed by evacuation by another C130J.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has reached Jeddah to oversee the evacuation mission.

Apart from the Sudanese authorities, the MEA and the Indian embassy in Sudan have been in regular touch with the UN, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and the US among others.

At a high-level meeting on Friday last, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued directions for the preparation of contingency plans to evacuate Indians from Sudan.

States Announce Steps to Assist Evacuees from Sudan

Several states have opened help desks and announced assistance like free travel and lodging for Indians evacuated from strife-torn Sudan once they arrive in the country.

The Kerala government said it would make necessary arrangements to bring Malayalees evacuated from Sudan by the Centre to the state .

A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided that Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department would assist evacuees at various airports, according to the chief minister’s office.

Uttar Pradesh government opened a help desk at the resident commissioner office in Delhi for people from the state trapped in Sudan, a senior official said in Lucknow.

“Those coming from Sudan can contact Neeraj Singh, assistant review officer on 8920808414 or Ashish Kumar, protocol assistant on 9313434088 or Whatsapp them about their problems,” an order issued by Additional Resident Commissioner, New Delhi, Saumya Srivastava said.

The Rajasthan government has decided to bear the transportation expense of all migrants from the state after they land in Delhi.

The government will also arrange for boarding and lodging for the returnees, officials said Chief Resident Commissioner, Bikaner House, Shubra Singh urged all those affected from Rajasthan to furnish details to state authorities.

Dhiraj Srivastava who is the Commissioner of Rajasthan Foundation – a government organisation that works to strengthen relationships between the state and non-Rajasthani residents – said the state government has decided to assist the returnees.

“It will make sure that all the returnees from Sudan reach their families in Rajasthan free of cost from Delhi irrespective of whether they are they are travelling by flight, bus or any other form of transport,” Srivastava said in a statement.

The Madhya Pradesh government has started a helpline to assist people from the state as well as other parts of the country who are stranded in strife-torn Sudan.

Those stranded in Sudan and are keen to come back to MP or other states can contact the helpline “91-755-2555582” and share their details, the official said. The state government will coordinate with the Centre to facilitate their evacuation, he said.

The government has appointed the state’s home secretary Gaurav Rajput as the nodal officer for the purpose.

Besides, relatives of Madhya Pradesh residents stuck in Sudan can also contact the CM Helpline “181” to register details about their near and dear ones for getting assistance, the official said.

According to the official, the information can also be registered on the CM Helpline Portal – http://www.cmhelpline.mp.gov.in.

(With PTI inputs)

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