The Indian Embassy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, on Sunday, is keeping a close eye on the security situation in the Central African. Due to concerns about safety, the embassy is advising all Indian citizens in Bukavu "to immediately depart to safer locations," PTI reported.
The Embassy issued three advisories during the day and recommended that everyone prepare an emergency plan. There are about 1,000 Indian n꧟ationals in Congo.
Rwanda-backed M23 rebels captured the eastern Congolese city of Goma꧙ and are looki🏅ng at expanding their area of control.
"There are reports of M23 being only around 20-25 kms away from Bukavu. Given the security situation, we once again advise all Indian nationals residing in Bukavu to immediately depart to safer locations💫 by whatever means available while the airports, borders and commercial routes are still open. We stron🎃gly recommend against any travel to Bukavu," the advisory said.
In the latest advisory, the Embassy recommended that everyone prepar♈e an emergency plan and gave instructions to keep, at all times, all essential identity and travel documents with them; keep essential items such as medicines, clothings, travel documents, ready-to-eat food, water, etc. in a bag that can be carried easily, and monitor local media channels for updates.
The Indian Embassy also said that it is🐲 collating information on Indian nationals in Bukavu and asked asked them to urgently send relevant information such as full name, p🅠assport number, addresses in Congo and India, contact number among other details.
The latest advisory has also given a number (+243 890024313) and a mail ID ([email protected]) for Indian nationals to contact in the case of e🍒mergency.
The Indian Embassy had originally issued the advisory 🤡for all Indian nationals in Bukavu, South Kivu൩ in Congo on January 30
Quoting the Congolese authorities, AP has reported that at least 773 people were killed in Goma and its vicinity this week amid fighting with Rwanda-backed rebels, who captured the city in a major escalatio🌱n of a decade-long conflict.
Meanwhile, India ha🦩d on Friday called for a peaceful res𒉰olution of the conflict in Congo and said it is closely following the developments in the central African country.
In New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said about 1,00🐠0 Indian nationals are living in Goma. He, however, had said that most of them had moved to ꦏsafer places following the start of the conflict.
Jaiswal also said that there are around 1,200 Indian troops serving in the country as part of the MONUSCO (UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Cong🌼o) peacekeeping mission in eastern Congo.
(With PTI Inputs)
