Saudi Arabia has evacuated 150 people, including Saudi and Pakistani nationals, trapped in restive Sudan on Sunday. According to the Saudi media, in the first announced evacuation since the start of the civil war, Saudi Arabia has managed to evacuate 150 foreign diplomats, staff and citizens of other countries, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, from Sudan.

According to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Saudi Navy, with the help of other military agencies, conducted a rescue mission with three ships to evacuate the citizens. It was reported that 91 Saudi nationals and 66 citizens of 12 countries, including Pakistan, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, India and Canada, had been brought safely to Jeddah.

Women and children were among those who had been evacuated. They were offered flowers, sweets and other such items by the Saudi authorities upon arrival in Jeddah. Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement that the government had constantly been monitoring efforts for the safety of Pakistani citizens in Sudan while keeping a close eye on developments in the restive African country.

Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed Khan on Saturday held a follow-up virtual meeting with Pakistan’s missions in Sudan and neighbouring countries to discuss modalities for the safe evacuation of Pakistanis from Sudan. The representatives from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and other agencies concerned also joined the meeting. The participants had an in-depth discussion on finalising plans for safely and quickly evacuating Pakistani citizens from Sudan.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan: INP