April 2, 2015
Kochi: The first batch of 358 Indians evacuated from strife-torn Yemen is back home safely. While 168 rescued Indians landed in Kochi, a batch of 190 landed in Mumbai.
CNN-IBN spoke to those evacuated and they urged the Indian government to step up its rescue mission as the situation in Yemen is fast deteriorating.
April 2, 2015
Kochi: The first batch of 358 Indians evacuated from strife-torn Yemen is back home safely. While 168 rescued Indians landed in Kochi, a batch of 190 landed in Mumbai.
CNN-IBN spoke to those evacuated and they urged the Indian government to step up its rescue mission as the situation in Yemen is fast deteriorating.
Indian Navy's rescue team evacuated Indian nationals from Aden in Yemen and shifted them Djibouti in Africa on Wednesday. The Kerala Rural Development Minister KC Joseph said that this evacuation of 358 Indians was only possible due to talks held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Saudi Arabia's King Salman, as Saudi Arabia controls Yemeni airspace.
Saudi Arabia has been conducting air strikes in Yemen against Houthi rebels. Over 3000 Indians still believed to be stranded on Yemen.
"The situation is very pathetic there and we are very thankful to the Ministry of External Affairs. When we reached Dijbouti Minister of State, External Affairs, General (retd) VK Singh was on board and he gave us a warm welcome and the Indian Air Force flight was ready," a rescued Indian said.
"The situation in Yemen is terrible and there are many Indians still awaiting evacuation. My request to the Indian government is to bring them safely the way they have brought us back." another rescued Indian said.
About 320 Indians are still stranded in Sanaa in Yemen. Some of them reached the Sanaa airport on Wednesday and were even given their boarding passes but were later asked to go back as the Indian Embassy has still not received clearance from the Saudi Arabia. They are expected to fly back on Thursday.
Kerala minister Joseph said, "The delay is because we have to await permission from Saudi government for the Indian planes to function."
"There are different places in Yemen where people are stranded. From Aden and other places we can bring them by ship and from Sanaa they will be airlifted from different pockets and they will be taken either to the port or the airport," he added.
Courtesy: IBN
