New Delhi: Both generals in Sudan have agreed to a 72-hour armistice. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave this information. The cease-fire comes after nearly 10 days of fighting, hundreds of deaths and the exodus of a large number of foreigners. A ceasefire had been tried by both sides before this but it failed. Blinken announced that after 48 hours of intense negotiations, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Force have agreed to a nationwide ceasefire. The ceasefire will start from the midnight of April 24 and will continue for the next 72 hours.
The central government has launched ‘Operation Kaveri’ to bring back the stranded Indians in Sudan. With the implementation of the ceasefire, it is being speculated that India may soon begin operations to rescue its own people stranded in the African country. Addressing the Youth Conclave in Kochi on Monday, PM Modi himself said that ‘due to the civil war in Sudan, many of our people are stuck there. So we have launched ‘Operation Kaveri’ to bring them to safety.
How many Indians are still stuck in Sudan?
Migration of foreign nationals is becoming difficult due to violence, tension and insecure airports in the country. Meanwhile, the paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF) is trying to take control of the main international airport in the capital, Khartoum. Around 3,000 Indians are among the stranded foreign nationals. Meanwhile, 48-year-old Albert Augustine from Kerala has died of bullet injuries.
Very bad situation in Sudan
According to the United Nations agency, the violence in Sudan has so far killed 427 people and injured more than 3,700. Among the dead was an official from the Egyptian embassy in Khartoum, who was killed in the attack as he was returning home from his office. So far more than 4 thousand people from different countries have been safely evacuated from Sudan. At the same time, Sudanese residents have also migrated in large numbers to Chad, Egypt and South Sudan. People are facing shortage of water, food and medicine.