China evacuates embassy staff, citizens from conflict-hit South Sudan

ENTEBBE, Uganda, July 16 (Xinhua) -- China on Saturday evacuated some of its embassy staff and some citizens trapped in the recent fighting in South Sudanese capital, Juba.

Major General Su Guanghui, acting director of the Peacekeeping Affairs Office of the Chinese Defense Ministry, and his delegation who arrived Saturday morning in Juba evacuated 17 embassy staff, 12 members of the Chinese medical team and 20 people from Chinese companies.

The relieved team from the conflict-hit country aboard a special plane organized by the authorities in Beijing was received by Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zhao Yali at Entebbe International Airport, about 40 kilometers south of the capital Kampala, on their way home.

"I felt proud, relieved and safe when I boarded the special plane organized by the Chinese government. I thank our government for organizing and sending this plane to evacuate us," Jiang Feiyun, deputy leader of the Chinese medical team in Juba, told Xinhua in Entebbe.

The evacuation is part of the emergency measures the Chinese government is taking to protect its citizens in the recent fighting between government troops of President Salva Kiir and forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar in Juba.

Two Chinese peacekeepers under the UN Mission in South Sudan were killed and four others injured on last Sunday evening as the fighting between government and anti-government forces continued.

The two seriously injured peacekeepers, Chen Ying and Huo Yahui, were on Saturday afternoon airlifted to Beijing aboard a specialist medical rescue plane sent by the Chinese military for specialized treatment and operations.