Operation Kaveri

Operation Kaveri (Hindi: कावेरी romanized: Kaveri, lit. Kaveri River) was an operation conducted by the Indian Armed Forces to evacuate Indian citizens and foreign nationals from Sudan during the 2023 Sudan conflict.[2][3] The evacuation was conducted by air and sea, most likely in Port Sudan where most of the evacuations were done by Indian Navy through INS Sumedha.[4] The operation was conducted for the evacuations of thousands of Indians in Sudan, primarily in Khartoum, the capital of the country.

Operation Kaveri
Part of the Evacuation of foreign nationals during the 2023 Sudan conflict and Battle of Khartoum
Operational scopeHumanitarian relief
Planned byIndian Armed Forces and Ministry of External Affairs
Commanded byGeneral
ObjectiveEvacuation of Indian citizens from Sudan
Date24 April — 5 May 2023[1]
Executed byIndian Armed Forces
OutcomeNearly 3,862 evacuated as of 5 May 2023.

Background

The history of conflicts in Sudan has consisted of foreign invasions and resistance, ethnic tensions, religious disputes, and competition over resources. In its modern history, two civil wars between the central government and the southern regions killed 1.5 million people, and a continuing conflict in the western region of Darfur has displaced two million people and killed more than 200,000 people.[5] Since independence in 1956, Sudan has had more than fifteen military coups and it has also been ruled by the military for the majority of the republic's existence, with only brief periods of democratic civilian parliamentary rule.[6]

On 15 April 2023, the RSF launched a surprise attack on multiple Sudanese Army bases across the country, including in the capital Khartoum. At 12:00 (CAT),[7] RSF forces claimed to have captured Khartoum International Airport, Merowe Airport, El Obeid Airport as well as a base in Soba. Clashes between RSF and the Army erupted at the Presidential Palace and at the residence of General al-Burhan, with both sides claiming control over the two sites.[8]

Operation

Alarmed by the growing tensions and the conflict, India joined several other countries to make a massive evacuation of nationals and citizens from Sudan, the next day India announced the start of Operation Kaveri as 500 Indians were reported in Port Sudan.[9]

On 24 April, External Affairs Ministry said two C-130J aircraft and Garud Commando Force operatives of the Indian Air Force were on standby in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as part of preparations for evacuation, while the Indian Navy's INS Sumedha had reached Port Sudan.[10]

On 25 April, 278 Indians[11] were transported by sea to INS Sumedha.[12]

On the night of April 27–28, a C-130J aircraft of the Indian Air Force with 121 Indians took off from Wadi Seidna Air Base. The flight was dangerous, as fighting was going on in this area (later a Turkish plane would come under fire here).[13] Approaching the airstrip, the IAF pilots used their onboard electro-optical and infrared sensors to ensure that the runway was free of obstructions and no inimical forces were in the vicinity. The pilots adopted a tactical approach—as done in war zones—using night vision goggles. On landing, the aircraft engines were kept running while eight IAF Garud commandos, fully armed with automatic weapons, located, verified and secured the passengers and their luggage into the aircraft. The take-off from the runway was again carried out with night vision goggles.[14]

A total of 754 Indian citizens were evacuated on 28 April. Among those rescued was an employee of the French diplomatic mission, as well as his family.[14][15]

Nearly 2,400 Indian citizens evacuated from Sudan as of 29 April 2023.[16]

Nearly 231 Indian citizens (most of them from Gujarat) were evacuated from Sudan on 2 May 2023.[17]

India completed the evacuation of Hakki Pikki tribe members of Karnataka from Sudan. The Indian evacuees including the Hakki Pikki tribes were housed in a school in Port Sudan, before being flown to Jiddah.[18]

See also

References
  1. भाषा, पीटीआई- (6 May 2023). "खत्म हुआ 'ऑपरेशन कावेरी'! सेना की 17 उड़ानें, नौसेना के 5 जहाज, सूडान से वापस आए 3862 भारतीय". www.abplive.com (in Hindi).
  2. "India launches Operation Kaveri to evacuate its nationals from Sudan". Deccan Herald. 24 April 2023. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  3. Bhattacherjee, Kallol (24 April 2023). "India launches Operation Kaveri to evacuate stranded citizens from war-hit Sudan". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  4. "India begins evacuating citizens from Sudan under 'Operation Kaveri'". WION. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  5. "Sudan: 'I haven't slept, I'm terrified,' says Khartoum resident as fighting rages". BBC News. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  6. "Military Rule No Longer Viable in Sudan: Analyst". VOA. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  7. "Sudan: Army and RSF battle over key sites, leaving 56 civilians dead". BBC News. 15 April 2023. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  8. "السودان في ثاني أيام المعارك.. اتساع المواجهات بين الجيش والدعم السريع وفتح ممرات إنسانية لفترة وجيزة". www.aljazeera.net (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  9. "Highlights: India's Operation Kaveri To Evacuate Citizens From Sudan Begins". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  10. "IAF planes on standby, INS Sumedha at Port Sudan as India seeks to expedite evacuation from Sudan". Economic Times. 22 April 2023. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  11. "First batch of 278 Indians leaves crisis-hit Sudan under Operation Kaveri". Deccan Herald. 25 April 2023. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  12. "India begins evacuation from Sudan; 278 Indians board naval ship to Jeddah". Hindustan Times. 25 April 2023. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  13. "Turkish evacuation plane shot at while landing in Sudan". Middle East Eye. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  14. "IAF pilots land aircraft on unlit runway to rescue 121". Tribune India. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  15. "No Light on Sudan Airstrip, IAF Pilots Use Night Vision Goggles For Landing; Rescue 121 People". News18. 28 April 2023. Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  16. "Sudan crisis: Rival forces violate ceasefire as fighting rages, India rescues nearly 2,400 citizens | 5 points". India Today. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  17. "Sudan crisis: 231 Indians reach Ahmedabad from Jeddah". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  18. Bhattacherjee, Kallol (4 May 2023). "Operation Kaveri | India completes risky evacuation of most of the Hakki Pikki tribe members from Sudan". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
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