Traders' families call for evacuation from Sudan

MUMBAI: Approximately 3,000 Indians, many of them traders from Mumbai, are stranded in the conflict zone of Sudan. Their womenfolk and children are urging the ministry of external affairs (MEA) to evacuate Indian citizens, and praying for their safe and swift return.
Given the age-old economic ties between Africa and India, it was inevitable that businessmen from Mumbai, the country's financial capital, travel to the Sudanese capital of Khartoum for trade.
The father of Powai resident Mansi Sheth is among those waiting to be evacuated. Mansi, who works as a German translator, voiced concern saying, "Water, food and power supplies are short in Sudan, so the people stuck there are only infrequently calling families back home. They are using power banks but need to conserve phone batteries."
Mansi's father put the phone on speaker at 4.30am local time-and she heard gunshots being fired in the locality.
She said, "My grandfather ran an old business in Khartoum. He passed away two years ago. My father travelled there a few days ago to wind up the affairs. In fact, Saturday April 15, he was at Khartoum airport waiting to catch a flight to Mumbai when all hell broke loose in the streets. He had checked in his luggage. But his flight was cancelled. He walked half an hour to get to a hotel where he remains." Mansi called for swift repatriation of all Indians.
The anxious wife of a 50-year-old textile merchant from south Mumbai is by now familiar with all personnel manning MEA's Sudan helpline. She said, "I call them regularly and they are polite and responsive. Scores of Indians run businesses and factories in Sudan and employ hundreds of Indians. We trust foreign minister S Jaishankar, he is a veteran, and PM Modi is hands-on. I urge them to evacuate our people like Japan."
Her husband was due to return April 17 but the conflict precluded that possibility. She said, "He often travelled to export cotton cloth and garments to Khartoum's textile market. But he never felt unsafe. Imagine such a siege occurring in the streets of Delhi or Mumbai. My 19-year-old son has exams coming up but he is so worried about his father. We are reciting Hanuman Chalisa and doing Sundarkand paath." Both families have reportedly been advised by MEA to not share names or photos of their stranded relatives with the media as "that could put them in danger". The Indian embassy in Sudan issued an advisory: "We have come across many instances of looting. All Indian nationals are advised please not to venture out. Please ration your supplies. The situation may continue for a few more days. Please try to take help from your neighbours. Please stay at home and remain safe."