India starts Operation Kaveri to bring back citizens, 500 reach port Sudan

India has launched "Operation Kaveri" to evacuate Indian nationals from war-torn Sudan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced on Monday. Currently, the country is witnessing a violent conflict between the Sudanese army and a rival powerful paramilitary group.

In his tweet, Jaishankar said that 500 Indians have arrived at Port Sudan and ships and planes are ready to bring the stranded Indians back home. “Operation Kaveri is underway to bring back our citizens stranded in Sudan. About 500 Indians reached Port Sudan. More on their way. Our ships and planes are ready to bring them back home. Committed to helping all our brothers in Sudan,” Jaishankar tweeted.

The ministry had earlier informed that two Indian aircraft were on standby in Jeddah and INS Sumedha had reached Port Sudan. The ministry also informed that they are closely monitoring the complex and evolving security situation in Sudan.

Apart from the Sudanese authorities, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Sudan are also in regular contact with the UN, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and the US.

Earlier, France and Saudi Arabia evacuated Indian citizens from the African nation. Saudi Arabia said in an official statement that it had evacuated 91 of its own citizens and 66 from friendly countries. The French embassy said it had evacuated people from several countries including Indian citizens from the war-torn country.