154 Indians safely brought back to India from South Sudan

Thiruvananthapuram: The Indian Airforce plane ‘C-17 Globemaster’ returned India on Friday alongwith 156 people who were stuck in the war zone of South Sudan. There are two Nepali citizens out of the people who were brought back safely from South Sudan. Also, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj has appealed all Indians there to make use of this opportunity and leave South Sudan and also asked them to inform their relatives and friends too.

The situation in South Sudan is worsening day by day and hence to evacuate the Indians stranded here ‘Operation Sankat Mochan’ was taken up by India on Thursday. Along with ‘C-17’, 2 planes of the Indian Airforce and a rescue team with the External Affairs Home Minister General V. K. Singh arrived at South Sudan. On Friday, first ‘C-17’ arrived in India carrying 156 people who had registered themselves completing all the documentation at the Indian Embassy in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. It included 9 women, 3 children and 2 Nepali citizens as well. The other plane carrying Indians will also reach soon, said General Singh.

Out of the people that have returned to India, 34 were from Kerela and 32 from Tamil Nadu. Hence, the Indian Airforce plane ‘C-17’ was first landed at Thiruvananthapuram. Thereafter, the plane left for Delhi, informed the Office of External Ministry.

As per the number declared by the Office of External Ministry, a total of 550 Indians were there in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. Whereas 150 Indians live in the oil wells region near the Juba city. Other than the 154 people that came back to India on Friday through the Airforce planes, 30 to 40 people have planned to book tickets of the commercial aeroplanes for returning to India. However, 300 Indians have not shown interest in returning. The main reason being the business of these Indians.

Meanwhile, India took help of Yuganda, the neighboring country of South Sudan for ‘Operation Sankat Mochan’. The Prime Minister of Yuganda, Ruhakana Rugunda had given assurance of helping India in all the possible ways. Accordingly, the Indian Airforce planes ‘C-17’ were landed in Yuganda during the return journey.

General V.K. Singh, the External Affairs Home Minister who lead this operation met and had discussions with the External Minister of South Sudan, Deng Alor Kuol. Also, General V.K. Singh had a talk with the Indian Soldiers deployed in the United Nations peacekeepers of South Sudan.

#OperationSankatMochan: #Indian govt’s prompt response to #SouthSudan situation. Indian Forces evacuate successfully pic.twitter.com/xjpaMQx90O

— Samir Dattopadhye (@samirsinh189) July 15, 2016