The National Public Health Laboratory in Khartoum was taken over by Sudanese rebels on Tuesday, leading the World Health Organisation to issue a warning about a serious biological risk. According to reports, soon after the 72-hour truce was declared, witnesses claimed that fierce combat took place in Khartoum states northern region between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group battling for control of the nation. The World Health Organisation also reported on Tuesday that there had been at least 459 deaths and at least 4,072 injuries in Sudan since the start of the unrest eleven days ago. A laboratory that contained numerous diseases and biological materials is said to have been taken over by RSF soldiers. The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that medical professionals could no longer use the lab without assigning blame for its seizure on any particular party.Nima Saeed Abid, the WHOs representative in Sudan, expressed concern about the situation and described it as “extremely dangerous” due to the labs possession of polio, measles, and cholera strains. He continued that the key public health lab in Khartoum being taken over by one of the battling parties posed a significant biological risk.WHO claims that the laboratory is currently unavailable to qualified workers and has power outages. As a result, it has been difficult to control the biological materials that have been kept for medicinal purposes. The laboratorys director-general issued a warning that the power outages also run the risk of contaminating inventories of depleted blood bags.Furthermore, it is suggested that the risk is that armed conflicts could start up in the lab, which would transform it into a “germ bomb.” The laboratory officials called for an immediate need for international assistance to restore power and protect the lab from these conflicts since there is a genuine biological risk.Operation Kaveri: India evacuates citizens from SudanIndia started Operation Kaveri to rescue its citizens who were trapped in Sudan due to the current violence. As the battle between the army and paramilitary group broke out ten days ago, the nation believes that roughly 3,000 Indians were stranded in Sudan. The INS Sumedha, carrying 278 passengers, sailed from the Port of Sudan on Tuesday for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Five hundred people have already been transported to the Port of Sudan, and ships and planes have been despatched to transport trapped Indians back home. Indias External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, posted images of the evacuated passengers on board the ship waving the Indian flag and smiling for the camera. Indian assistance will be provided to all of its people in Sudan, according to Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar.Operation Kaveri unfolds. INS Sumedha docks in Jeddah with 278 passengers.Thank HH @FaisalbinFarhan and Saudi Arabian authorities for their fullest cooperation. pic.twitter.com/4a0gqHOTNi— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 25, 2023#OperationKaveri in full swing. Second IAF C-130J flight departs Port Sudan for Jeddah, carrying another 135 passengers.This is the third batch of evacuees under #OperationKaveri. pic.twitter.com/oQzsH4yBAr— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 25, 2023The French Embassy in Sudan has rescued 388 persons, including Indian citizens. Saudi Arabia also saved three Indians who were stuck in Sudans capital, Khartoum. Previously, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over a conference to examine the situation in Sudan and recommended the setting up of contingency evacuation preparations for stranded Indians. The foreign ministry of India declared on Sunday that the government is closely collaborating with various partners to guarantee the safe evacuation of its citizens in Sudan. The ministry also stated that Indian Air Force planes are on alert in Jeddah.
