Navy, Air India evacuate 691 from strife-torn Yemen - Chandigarh Tribune

Indian nationals, who were stranded in Yemen, at Mumbai airport after being evacuated on Sunday. PTI

The Indian Navy today evacuated 203 persons from the port city of Ash Shihr in strife-torn Yemen, while Air India air-lifted 488 persons in three flights between the capital city of Sana’a and Djibouti in north-eastern Africa. Djibouti, which has French and US Naval air bases, is located on the north-east coast of Africa and separated from Yemen by a narrow strait, the Bab-El-Mandeb.

Led by Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh (retd), an Indian team is camping in Djibouti and coordinating the operation. Those evacuated to Djibouti are further airlifted on board Indian Air Forces’ strategic lifters, the C-17. The giant planes are ferrying people daily from Djibouti to India and two flights land every night in either Mumbai or Kochi.

Today, the Navy was tasked to evacuate stranded Indians from the port city of Al Mukalla, located 782 km from Aden on the south Yemen coast of Gulf of Aden. The INS Sumitra, which was on way to Al Mukalla, had to be anchored a few miles out of the port of Ash Shihr, some 64 km east of its destination. The warship had to be relocated midway as there was information of an affiliate group of Al-Qaida taking over the main port city.

“With the help of local boats and country craft, evacuees embarked on the INS Sumitra, which left Ash Shihr around 5 pm IST,” Indian Navy spokesperson Capt DK Sharma said. The ship is expected to reach Djibouti tomorrow noon, he said. Yesterday the same technique of anchoring a few miles off the port was used when the INS Mumbai picked up 439 persons from Aden.

Air India was successful in operating three flights out of Sana’a in which 488 Indians were evacuated to Djibouti today. The Saudi Arabia-led coalition that is fighting the Houti rebels in Yemen had okayed the landing of civilian flights at Sana’a subject to clearance. A similar air evacuation was carried out on April 3.

The Indian rescue efforts had led to several other countries seeking help. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is a family). The INS Mumbai evacuated nationals of some 17 countries from Yemen along with Indians,” MEA Spokesperson Syed Akbrauddin tweeted.

Of the 439 rescued by the INS Mumbai last night, 176 were foreigners, Defence Ministry Spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said.

Among those rescued from Aden last night were people from following countries: Hungary (four), Yemen (93), the UK (24), Russia (two), France (eight), Egypt (19), Nepal (one), Canada (two), Lebanon (three), Sri Lanka (one), Morrocco (one), Syria (two), Jordan (five), Italy (one), Romania (two), Sweden (five) and the USA (three).