'Sankat Mochak' VK Singh arrives in South Sudan; Sushma Swaraj urges Indians to move out

New Delhi: Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh on Thursday reached South Sudan to evacuate Indians stranded in the war-torn African country.

After leading `Operation Raahat` successfully in Yemen, Singh is at the helm of the government`s `Operation Sankat Mochan` to evacuate Indians from South Sudan.

Taking to Twitter, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said:

South Sudan - My colleague @Gen_VKSingh has landed in Juba to evacuate Indian nationals from there.OP #SankatMochan. /1 — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 14, 2016

She further stated that the government has sent two aircraft for the evacuation and urged all Indian nationals to move out of the troubled African nation.

All Indian nationals - We have sent two aircrafts. This is the right time. Pls move out of South Sudan./2 — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 14, 2016

In case situation deteriorates, we will not be able to evacuate you. Pl note./3 — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 14, 2016

Please ask all your relatives and friends in South Sudan to pl make use of this opportunity and move out. #SankatMochan — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 14, 2016

According to Vikas Swarup, the spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry, Indian Blue Berets who are part of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) are helping in the evacuation process.

Opn #SankatMochan
Indian Blue Berets posted in South Sudan as part of UNMISS lend a helping hand in evac'n effort pic.twitter.com/0tCr94iwmx — Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) July 14, 2016

In a separate tweet, Swarup said Singh has also met with South Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor Kuol. 

Opn #SankatMochan
Close co-ord'n with local authorities. MOS @Gen_VKSingh meets with S Sudan FM Deng Alor Kuol pic.twitter.com/aZbkS7p60R — Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) July 14, 2016

Opn #SankatMochan
Indian rescue team headed by @Gen_VKSingh lands in Juba in the first C-17 Globemaster pic.twitter.com/tilGk5nXZn — Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) July 14, 2016

Indian nationals with valid travel documents would be allowed boarding with maximum five kg cabin baggage and no check-in pieces. Women and children will be accommodated on priority. The return flights would be only up to New Delhi.

 

Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday said that Singh would be accompanied 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.

There are around 500 Indians in the country.

Bollywood star Akshay Kumar had on July 12 tweeted External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to take speedy measures for evacuation of Indians stuck in Juba, South Sudan.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir 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 state broadcaster SSTV.

The ceasefire took effect from 6 pm on Monday and any member of the Machar-led forces who surrendered must also be protected, Makuei said.

The latest bout of violence started on July 7 after a localised gunfight outside Kiir`s residence in Juba when he was holding a meeting with Machar.