348 Indian nationals evacuated from war-torn Yemen

As the Gulf country descended deeper into violence and anarchy, India evacuated 348 Indian nationals from the war-torn Yemen. They are being taken to Djibouti across the red sea on the horn of Africa, where the Indian Air Force is waiting to fly them home.

INS Sumitra, India’s major petrol vessel, was deployed to rescue Indian nationals after New Delhi got permission to dock its ship at Aden Harbor in Yemen, and evacuate Indians who were stranded in the port city. The Indian government has launched a massive operation through sea and air to bring back around 4,000 citizens stuck in different part of war-ridden Yemen.

The Indian Navy ship departed from Yemen to Djibouti with 348 Indian nationals on March 31 night. They have reached Djibouti on April 1 morning, from where they will be airlifted to India.

“Sailing away from troubles, INS Sumitra set sail for Djibouti last night from Aden with 348 Indian nationals evacuated from Yemen,” confirmed the Ministry of External Affairs on twitter.

Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh is currently inDjibouti overseeing the evacuation, termed as “Operation Raahat”, in which five ships and five aircraft have been deployed.

On March 30, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and discussed the safety of Indian nationals in Yemen. He was assured that full attention will be given to the safety of Indians, and all possible assistance will be provided to them for their safe evacuation.

The war between Houthi militias and Saudi Arabia-led coalition in Yemen has ravaged the country, which is caught in power games between Tehran and Riyadh. With guns booming and bombs exploding all day and night, people have been desperate to leave strife-torn Yemen.

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