‘They placed their guns on our chests, heads and began looting us’: Indian citizens trapped in Sudan narrate their pain

India evacuated about 530 Indian nationals stuck in Sudan. India used military aircraft and a warship for the evacuation after the Sudanese military and paramilitary leadership decided on a three-day nationwide ceasefire allowing the countries to evacuate their citizens.

The Indian citizens evacuated from Sudan talked about the circumstances and difficulties faced in the war-torn nation. One of the citizens recounted a riot-like situation in Sudan and mentioned how the Government of India set up a ship to transport them and the Indian Army fed the rescued people.

Furthermore, the Indian Air Force flew citizens from Port of Sudan to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and numerous other citizens were evacuated through the sea from Port of Sudan as a part of Operation Kaveri. In view of the ongoing turmoil, more people are expected to be evacuated from the war-torn nation.

The degree of warfare was very high in Sudan, said another citizen evacuated from Sudan. He recounted that the warfare occurred outside their homes, leading to difficulties in finding food rations amid crises. Furthermore, another evacuee said that they had not eaten anything in three days.

“The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which is a paramilitary force of Sudan was very close to their company, and at 9:00 AM, they (RSF) entered our company and began firing and looting us. They kept us hostage for eight hours. They kept guns on our heads and chest and looted us. They destroyed everything in the company. They destroyed files and stole our laptops and mobile phones.,” a citizen evacuated from Sudan revealed.

“We then contacted the Embassy, and we did not have any food, and we hid in a village. We arranged for diesel and asked the embassy to arrange a bus for us to be evacuated,” he added.

The Indian nationals evacuated from Sudan also thanked the Government of India for the arrangements for the people rescued from Sudan. “The arrangements made in Saudi Arabia are excellent” complimented one individual. “We could not get a better arrangement than this. We really appreciate it,” lauded another. “Everything was fine here, and everything went smoothly. We got a good flight and also a ticket to leave,” praised one more.

The Union Minister of State for Foreign Affairs V Muraleedharan visited Jeddah on April 25, to supervise the repatriation operations and welcomed the Indian nations arriving in the port city of Saudi Arabia.

It is pertinent to note that most Indians assembled at the Port of Sudan have been evacuated and transported to Saudi Arabia till April 25. Furthermore, the Indian authorities are considering the option of utilising military bases close to the capital city for rescuing other citizens out of Khartoum and other cities.

It is pertinent to note that when the war between the Sudanese military and paramilitary forces began, there were about 3000 Indian citizens in Sudan with most of them in Sudan’s capital Khartoum. Furthermore, the battle killed about 459 people and injured more than 4000 people, according to the United Nations Organisation. Furthermore, food shortages have been reported in various cities and towns, and lack of water and electricity.