PM Modi chairs meeting on Sudan violence, evacuation possibility discussed for stranded Indians

New Delhi (India), April 21, 2023: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting today to assess the situation of Indians stranded in violence-stricken Sudan. The External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, had earlier discussed the deteriorating situation in the country with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The government has stated that the situation in Sudan is extremely tense, and its focus is on ensuring the safety and well-being of the Indian community by developing contingency plans, including the possibility of evacuation.

The country’s army and paramilitary forces have engaged in battle, resulting in over 300 fatalities, despite appeals from world powers for an end-of-Ramadan ceasefire.

Khartoum, the capital city, has been one of the worst-hit areas, with air strikes and tanks firing in densely packed districts, causing most of its five million residents to shelter at home without access to electricity, food, or water. Communication channels have been heavily disrupted.

Medics have warned of a looming catastrophe, especially in Khartoum, where many hospitals have been caught in the crossfire. The doctors’ union has stated that up to 70% of the hospitals in Khartoum and neighboring states have been rendered “out of service” by the fighting.

Furthermore, the death toll is expected to be much higher than stated, with numerous injured individuals unable to reach medical facilities.

Several countries’ evacuation plans have been put on hold, with the US Defense Department deploying forces in the region with the aim of “securing and potentially facilitating the departure of US Embassy personnel from Sudan.”