As the bloody clashes between government forces and paramilitary organizations continue for the ninth day in Sudan, North Africa, and the threat to the safety of local residents and diplomats grows, countries around the world, including Korea, are in full swing with the ‘Great Escape’ operation. To evacuate 28 Koreans, the South Korean government dispatched an Air Force transport plane carrying troops from the Army Special Warfare Command and the Cheonghae Unit in the Gulf of Aden, Somalia, to the site. The United States, Saudi Arabia, France, and Jordan have already evacuated their citizens from Sudan or are conducting operations.
As of the 23rd (local time), 28 Koreans living in Sudan have moved to the local embassy in Khartoum, the capital, and are waiting. Ambassador to Sudan Namgung-hwan said in a phone call with the Dong-A Ilbo that day, “All 28 people are at the embassy and are safe.”
South Korean Air Force C-130J transport planes arrived at the U.S. military base in Djibouti, a country near Sudan, on the 22nd and are waiting to evacuate them to a safe area. About 50 people, including troops from the Army Special Warfare Command, Air Force Process Controller (CCT), pilots, and mechanics, were on board. They are staying in Djibouti and awaiting instructions from the government.
The US military base is about 1200 km away from Hartroom in a straight line. It is known that it has not yet been decided how to move Koreans waiting at the embassy from Sudan to Djibouti. Ambassador Nam said, “We are continuing to express our opinions to the (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) headquarters, but (the rescue method) has not been decided.”
A government source said, “We are looking into all the land and air routes that Koreans can safely reach Djibouti. It will be possible,” he said.
The government moved the Cheonghae Unit, a South Korean military dispatched unit operating in the Gulf of Aden, to the waters near Sudan in preparation for a situation where Koreans cannot board transport planes. This was in accordance with President Yoon Seok-yeol’s order to urgently dispatch the Cheonghae Unit to ensure the safety of Korean citizens on the 22nd. Spokesman Lee Do-woon of the Presidential Office said in a written briefing on the 22nd that President Yoon gave the order after receiving a report on the local situation that day. If rescue by means of transport is not feasible, it is reported that a ‘waterway rescue’ using the Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin ship of the Cheonghae Unit is also being discussed.
Governments around the world also quickly launched emergency operations to evacuate their citizens. U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement on the 23rd, “Today, the U.S. military operation to withdraw U.S. diplomats, their families, and Koreans from Heart Room was carried out. I am grateful to our Soldiers for their hard work in bringing them to safety.” According to foreign media, about 70 Americans escaped Sudan through this operation.
President Biden said, “The US embassy in Sudan will be temporarily closed, but the people of Sudan and our commitment to what they want will not end.” He called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, saying, “The conflict that has already claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians must stop.”
The Saudi government also announced that 157 nationals from 12 countries, including Kuwait and Qatar, including 91 from Sudan alone, had fled Sudan and arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. They escaped Sudan by boat using Port Sudan, a port city on the Red Sea coast about 840 km northeast of the capital Hartrum.
In addition, it is known that the Jordanian government and France are also conducting emergency operations to evacuate their citizens from Sudan. According to Kyodo News, Japan, which dispatched a transport plane to the U.S. military base in Djibouti around the same time as Korea, is also closely monitoring the situation and preparing to escape.
Cairo =
Excited
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.