Stranded South Sudanese repatriated as India marks 74th Anniversary

By Kitab Unango
At least 26 South Sudanese nationals who were stranded in India due to COVID-19 lockdown have finally arrived in the capital Juba with support of the Indian Embassy in the country.
Their arrival at Juba International Airport on Friday August 21 coincided with the celebration of the 74th Independence Day of India.
The nationals included students who had completed their studies and those who went for treatment but could not return home due to the coronavirus lockdown, which commenced in March this year.
Indian Ambassador to South Sudan, S.D Moorthy coordinated their movements form different parts of the India to capital, Delhi, culminating to their final arrival to the country.
In his message marking the India Independence Day, Moorthy reiterated Indian President Ramnath Kovind’s commitment to support South Sudan in eradicating the deadly pandemic.
“In his address, the President highlighted the steps taken by the Government of India to contain the pandemic and the measures taken to revive the economy which got affected due to the coronavirus. He mentioned the Government’s assistance to the weaker sections of the society in this difficult time by providing free food grains to more than 800 million people till November 2020,” S D Moorthy said in an e-mail extended to City Review Friday last week.
“The Government of India has donated pharmaceutical related items to fight Covid-19 in more than 150 countries in the world during this pandemic. This showed Indian Government’s responsibility towards the world community in this critical time,” he continued.
Indian community through its Embassy in the country has made several donations to people of South Sudan over the past months since the COVID-19 struck the world.
Addressing the independence celebrants, the Ambassador called on Indians in the country to provide more supports to, especially vulnerable South Sudanese adversely affected by the pandemic.
The function was attended by Lt. Gen. Tinaikar, Force Commander of UNMISS, Brig. Bainsla, the Commander of INDBATT under UNMISS, Indian association office bearers and Indians in South Sudan.
In a related story, the Indian Embassy in Juba also facilitated the evacuation of Indians who were stranded in South Sudan since the outbreak of SARS-Cov-2.

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