No food, water and electricity: Tamils from war-hit Sudan narrate ordeal

CHENNAI: Nine Tamil people who were stuck in the war-hit Sudan arrived in Tamil Nadu on earlier this morning and narrated their ordeal and the situation in Sudan.

A student who returned to Madurai had addressed the reporters where she spoke about the hardships they had faced in the war-hit country. She said ,"Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF) and Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were fighting fiercely to capture our territory where we stayed."

Both the forces also said they wont attack people, but many people were unknowingly affected by guns and blasts, she added.

"Drinking water and electricity were cut off since the war started in our area and we used the food we had," she said. Indian Consular officer, Government of India and Tamil Nadu government had come forward to help us come to our country, she added.

“Our house was near the army quarters in Sudan. Unidentified people barged into our house and looted all the money, and valuables and took away our car,” said Kiruthika of Madipakkam, a software engineer.

“The last eight days were a nightmare and we suffered a lot. We lost all our savings and what we have is the dress we are wearing and an Indian passport,” Kiruthika said.

“I will never go back to Sudan and I thank the Union government and the State government for taking steps to bring us back. We will never forget the bonhomie shown by TN officials at the Delhi airport,” she added.

Informed airport sources said the representatives of the Tamil Nadu government welcomed all nine of them at the Delhi airport and made them stay in the Tamil Nadu house. Later, four passengers boarded the Indigo Airlines to reach Madurai and the five others boarded the Air India flight to Chennai. The Air India flight landed in Chennai at 8.30 am the officials welcomed them in the airport and made arrangements to travel to their houses. 

(With inputs from Bureau)