Thiruvanathpuram/New Delhi:The first batch of 156 people, including nine women and three children, evacuated from war-torn South Sudan arrived in India today on board an Air Force plane.
The C-17 plane from South Sudan’s capital city Juba with Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh escorting the evacuees, including two Nepali citizens, made a brief halt in Thiruvanathapuram where passengers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu disembarked before leaving for Delhi.
The IAF plane landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi this morning. “The flight from South Sudan has landed in Delhi. My colleague Shri Vijay Goyal is at the airport to receive them,” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted today. “I welcome our brothers and sisters on their safe return from strife torn South Sudan. Your country is always with you in hour of crisis,” Swaraj said in another tweet.
She expressed her gratitude to the Indian Air Force and its officers for safe evacuation of Indian nationals from the strife-torn territory. “Our heartfelt gratitude to the Indian Air Force and their brave officers who carried out this mission,” the External Affairs Minister said in here tweet. “I appreciate my MEA officers, Indian Ambassador to South Sudan and his team for their meticulous work,” she further tweeted.
There were over 550 Indians in Juba and another 150 in areas where the oil wells are located. MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup had yesterday said that the aim is to evacuate all the Indian nationals who have expressed their interest in leaving.
(Sourced from agencies, Feature image courtesy:www.dnaindia.com)
