New Delhi: India on Thursday said that the situation in Sudan continues to be very tense and that the focus is on ensuring the safety of the Indian nationals.
Addressing the weekly media briefing here in the capital, the Ministry of External Affairs spokersperson Arindam Bagchi said, "The situation on the ground continues to be very tense. Our focus is on ensuring the safety of the individuals. We are in touch with people through different channels".
This comes as around 200 people including an Indian national have been killed amid the ongoing clash between Sudan’s military, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and the country’s government paramilitary force, Rapid Support Forces (RSF). According to sources, 30 Indians are stuck in Al Fashir amid the violence in Sudanese.
Bagchi said that the Indian embassy in Khartoum is functioning and rendering all services with officials working from separate locations. "Nobody is inside the embassy building right now. We are in readiness and in close touch with our teams on the ground but it all depends on how long there is a ceasefire in fighting and safe locations available for evacuation," Bagchi said when asked about the evacuation of Indians from Sudan.
He said that there has been an unfortunate death of an Indian national and his body is currently at the hospital. "We are seeing how to get the body either back or evacuate the family...our embassy is in touch with the family of the deceased," he added. Meanwhile, India is coordinating closely with various countries to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals in Sudan, including the US, UK, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, which have a key role to play.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is currently in New York and is scheduled to meet with UN General Secretary on the Sudan crisis. Earlier on Thursday, Jaishankar spoke to the Foreign Minister of Egypt and discussed the alarming situation in Sudan. Taking to Twitter, EAM said, "Discussed the concerning situation in Sudan just now with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Deeply value his assessments and insights, as also his very helpful attitude. Agreed to remain in close touch".
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