The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday confirmed the evacuation of over 630 people from Sana’a city of strife-torn Yemen.
“Security situation in Yemen deteriorates further with bomb blast at Aden port today. India completes its air evacuations from Sana’a. Following evacuation by Naval Ships from Al Hudaydah port for remaining nationals over next two days. Embassy in Sana’a will need to shut operations and relocate its personnel,” MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.
“With airlifting of over 630 persons from Sana’a today by three special Air India flights, India has concluded its evacuation by air. The total no. of Indians evacuated from Sana’a by air has crossed 2900 by 18 special flights since the beginning of the air operations,” he said.
“Indian naval vessels have also evacuated over 1670 Indians from Aden, Al Hudaydah and Al Mukalla ports in Yemen since 31 March. Indian Naval Ship INS Sumitra evacuated 349 persons, including 46 Indians and 303 foreign nationals from Al Hudaydah port on 9 April. The entire evacuation effort has resulted in the evacuation of over 5600 persons. These include over 4640 Indian nationals and about 960 foreign nationals from 41 countries,” he added.
India had extended the air evacuation programme of stranded nationals from Yemen till today, following a rescue request by a group of 140 nurses.
The Indian Air Force aircraft C-17 brought back 239 Indian nationals evacuated from Yemen early this morning. While 177 people landed in Kochi, 62 arrived in Mumbai. The majority of the people who landed at Kochi were nurses from different districts of Kerala. Around 30 children were also amongst those who reached Kochi.
According to reports, Navy officers and Non Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) senior officials received the evacuated people at the airport, while special vehicles were arranged to drop them at their home towns.
India had launched massive efforts to evacuate around 4,000 nationals, more than half of them nurses, out of Yemen, where Shi’ite Houthi fighters have swept in Aden despite an air campaign led by Saudi Arabia to check their advance.
Till now, a total of 232 persons have been evacuated from 26 countries from Yemen. (ANI)