Operation Sankat Mochan, aimed at evacuating over 500 Indians stuck in the war-torn South Sudan, got underway on Thursday.
Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh is on board one of the two C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force that are on their way to South Sudan's capital Juba. He is accompanied by by Amar Sinha, secretary (economic relations) in the external affairs ministry, joint secretary Satbir Singh and director Anjani Kumar.
“#OperationSankatMochan begins at crack of dawn. Two C-17 aircraft leave for Juba with @Gen_VKSingh on board,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
"Indian Blue Berets posted in South Sudan as part of UNMISS lend a helping hand in evac'n effort. Close co-ord'n with local authorities. MOS @Gen_VKSingh meets with S Sudan FM Deng Alor Kuol," Swarup added hours later.
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday said that Singh would be leading the evacuation mission accompanied by by Amar Sinha, secretary (economic relations) in the external affairs ministry, joint secretary Satbir Singh and director Anjani Kumar.
She said India's ambassador in South Sudan Srikumar Menon and his team were organising this operation on the ground.
"We will make all possible efforts to bring back safely all Indian nationals who are stranded in Sudan," Gen VK Singh said before his departure.
Only Indian nationals with valid Indian travel document will be allowed boarding with maximum five kg cabin baggage and no check-in pieces. Women and children will be accommodated on priority.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir had on Monday evening ordered a ceasefire after days of heavy fighting between government troops and forces loyal to Vice-President Riek Machar in Juba.
President Kiir directed all commanders to cease all hostilities, control their forces and protect civilians, information minister Michael Makuei said in a televised speech on the state broadcaster SSTV.
The ceasefire took effect from 6pm local time on Monday any member of the Machar-led forces who surrendered must also be protected, Makuei said.
The latest bout of violence started after a localised gunfight outside Kiir's residence in Juba on July 7 when he was holding a meeting with Machar.
