The first batch of Indians stranded in violence-hit Sudan left the country onboard Indias naval ship INS Sumedha as part of the evacuation mission Operation Kaveri.External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said 278 people onboard the ship departed Port Sudan for the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah.First batch of stranded Indians leave Sudan under OperationKaveri.
India launched Operation Kaveri to evacuate stranded Indians from Sudan amidst deadly fighting and a 72-hour truce. The IAF C-130J and INS Sumedha have been deployed, and a control room set up in Jeddah.
"The second batch of 121 stranded Indians leaves Port Sudan for Jeddah onboard IAF C-130J aircraft," the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted informing that another sortie is soon to follow.
"Happy to receive 278 Indians from Sudan onboard INS Sumedha at Jeddah Port. Glad Saudi Director General, MFA, Jeddah Branch H.E.Mazin Hamad Al Himly joined me Thank Saudi authorities for excellent support in Jeddah. #OperationKaveri," V Muraleedharan tweeted.
WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris said in a UN press conference that according to figures from the government in Sudan, 413 people have died and 3,551 injured in the conflict.