RIYADH: France extended its gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) on Wednesday after the French Navy frigate Lorraine extracted UN staff from Sudan to the Kingdom.
Ludovic Pouille, French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, lauded the operation as a stunning success, underlining the excellent cooperation between France, Saudi Arabia, and the United Nations (UN) in this evacuation.
He thanked the Kingdom for its vital role in the operation and for hosting the French evacuees with such generosity in the tradition of Saudi Arabia. He also thanked Lorraine’s staff members.
UN help request to France
The UN had requested help from the French government as increasing security concerns in Sudan put the safety of the organization’s crew at risk. The organization lauded the swift and effective response of the French government in arranging the evacuation and ensuring the safety of its crew.
Lorraine left Port Sudan on Tuesday carrying UN crew and humanitarian workers. About 398 passengers from 64 nations, including 6 French citizens, were on board. The ship sailed from Port across the Red Sea. It reached Jeddah Islamic Port on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.
The evacuees were provided with the necessary help and support from Saudi authorities. They were warmly greeted and offered food, medical assistance, and shelter on arrival.
