New Delhi, April 8 – The total number of Indian nationals evacuated from war-torn Yemen touched 4000 mark as the government decides to end the air evacuation operation on Wednesday. While 600 were rescued by Air India, over 100 were being evacuated from Al Hudaydah by INS Turkish, officials told PTI.
“We will end our air evacuation efforts from Sanaa on Wednesday and all those who want to leave should do so by Wednesday,” the spokesperson in the Indian External Affairs Ministry said. Asked about any remaining Indians, sources said 4100 Indians had registered with the Indian mission in Yemen and most of them are out.
The government may continue the evacuation by sea route for some more time, they added. Meanwhile, a Pakistani navy ship carrying 11 Indians along with Pakistanis from strife-torn Yemen reached Karachi on Tuesday, following which Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif offered a special plane to carry them home.
India had also received requests from 26 countries including the US, Bangladesh and Iraq for assistance in evacuating their nationals from the strife-torn country. While Pakistan has not sought help for the evacuation of its nationals, India during the operation also rescued Pakistani nationals.
The evacuees were being taken to Djibouti from where they will fly back to India in an Indian Air Force aircraft. Official sources said the evacuation operation was going on notwithstanding the deteriorating situation across Yemen.
-INDIA TODAY
