New Delhi: India is all set to evacuate its 600-odd citizens from South Sudan, the world’s newest but war-torn country.
Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs Gen VK Singh will lead the operations nicknamed ‘Sankat Mochan” (dispel sorrow). A three-member team will accompany him. Two C17s will proceed to Juba early on July 14 morning.
The Indian embassy in South Sudan put out an advisory advising all Indians to “get in touch with the embassy in Juba, South Sudan capital, to avail the special facility on July 14, and obtain details of arrival and departure.
The advisory also assured citizens that additional flights will be pressed in service if required.
Meanwhile, the embassy has issued a list of instructions that said only those with valid Indian travel documents will be allowed to board. Citizens have been requested to get photocopies of the first and last page of their passports, if possible. No check in baggage will be allowed and a maximum baggage of 5 kg inside the cabin will be accommodated. Women and children would be given priority.
The evacuation flight route will be Juba-Kampala-Trivandrum-Delhi. Passengers who wish to get down at Trivandrum will be allowed to do so. However, those who wish to travel elsewhere from the two stops in India will have to make their own arrangements.
There are about 600 Indians in South Sudan with 450 in Juba itself, the India Today reported.
Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj held a meeting with senior officials in the ministry on July 12 and decided to re-assess the evacuation plan in the next 36 hours, as the government was hopeful of the situation improving in Juba post the ceasefire.
Forces loyal to rivals, President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar indulged in violence in Juba for five days until a ceasefire was reached on July 11.
The decision to pull out all Indians from South Sudan was taken on July 13 morning. Sushma Swaraj tweeted saying “our Ambassador in South Sudan Srikumar Menon and his team are organizing this operation on the ground.”
The MEA issued an advisory against travel to South Sudan on July 11. It said “the security situation in Juba, the capital city of South Sudan has deteriorated since 07th July, 2016. We have reports of gun fire and fighting on the streets of Juba making any movement virtually impossible. Ministry of External Affairs advises all Indian nationals against all travel to South Sudan till situation improves.”