Death toll from clashes in Sudan rises to 413: WHO
Modi directs preparation of contingency evacuation plans for Indians in Sudan
Geneva/New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI): The death toll as a result of armed clashes between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has risen to 413, and more than 3,500 others have been injured, World Health Organization (WHO) spokeswoman Margaret Harris said on Friday.
During a weekly UN briefing in Geneva, the WHO spokeswoman said that to date, the death toll stands at 413, while the number of those injured has risen to 3,551.
Last week, violent clashes between the Sudanese regular armed forces and the RSF paramilitary group broke out, with the epicenter located in Khartoum. Government forces accused the RSF of mutiny and launched airstrikes against their bases. Earlier on Friday, the RSF said it had agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire on humanitarian grounds starting 6:00 a.m. local time (04:00 GMT).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Sudan via video-conferencing, and directed the preparation of contingency evacuation plans for the over 3,000 Indian nationals living there.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Ambassador of India to Sudan and numerous other senior officials were present at the briefing, an official statement said.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi assessed the most recent developments in Sudan and received a first-hand report of the conditions on the ground, with specific focus on the safety of over 3,000 Indian citizens presently located throughout the country.
Modi instructed all relevant officials to remain vigilant, closely monitoring developments and continuously evaluating the safety of Indian nationals in Sudan and extending them all possible assistance.
He further directed the preparation of contingency evacuation plans, accounting for the rapidly shifting security landscape and the viability of various options.
The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of maintaining close communication with neighboring countries in the region, as well as those with significant numbers of citizens in Sudan, the statement said.
