India rescues over 4000 nationals from war-torn Yemen; air evacuation to end today

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, April 08, 2015: India will on Wednesday wind up air evacuation of its citizens from war-torn Yemen, officials have said.

The development comes a day after the total number of Indian evacuees from Yemen touched 4000 mark on Tuesday. Yesterday itself, the government evacuated nearly 1000 Indian nationals in three air sorties.

"We will end our air evacuation efforts from Sanaa tomorrow (Wednesday) and all those who want to leave should do so by tomorrow (Wednesday)," a spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said yesterday.

In a series of tweets, Syed Akbaruddin announced: "A thousand coming back tonight (Tuesday night) to India, if all goes well. 5 flights planned from Djibouti to India carrying those evacuated from Yemen."

He also said India has accepted "Pakistan’s offer to fly back from Karachi by special plane 11 Indians evacuated by Pakistani naval ship from Yemen".

Government officials said out of the nearly 4100 Indians who had registered with the Indian Embassy in Yemen, most of them have been evacuated.

The meticulous evacuation effort by India has come in for praise not just from rescued Indians but also from foreigners who have also been evacuated by Indian authorities.

In fact, India has received requests from 26 countries including the US, Bangladesh and Iraq for assistance in evacuating their nationals from the strife-torn country. As per last estimates, India has helped pull out 232 people from 26 countries from the strife-torn Gulf nation.

While Pakistan has not sought help for the evacuation of its nationals, India during the operation also rescued Pakistani nationals.

The evacuees are being taken to Djibouti from where they are flying back to India in Indian Air Force aircraft and Air India planes.

Yemen has been witnessing fierce battle between Saudi-led coalition and Shiite rebels, who have battled their way into various cities Yemen including in the former stronghold of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi who has fled overseas.

(With Agency inputs)