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Navy in night operation evacuates Indian nationals from Yemen

by IBNS 01 Apr 2015, 06:14 am

New Delhi, Apr 1 (IBNS): The Indian Navy on Tuesday night evacuated about 348 Indians caught in war-torn Yemen after Saudi-led air strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

Of those evacuated are 101 women and 28 children.
 
They are being taken to  Djibouti - across the Red Sea on the horn of Africa - from where the Indian Air Force's C-17s would fly them home.
 
"Sailing away from troubles. INS Sumitra set sail for Djibouti late last night from Aden with 348 Indian nationals evacuated from Yemen," tweeted MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin. 
 
India's foreign ministry earlier said since approximately 4,000 Indian nationals remain in the conflict zone in Yemen. 
 
Indian ship INS Sumitra was in the region. Its service is being utilized to ensure the safety of Indian nationals who will be repatriated or evacuated by sea. 
 
The Indian Navy is pressing into service two additional ships, INS Mumbai and INS Tarkash. On Mar 30 morning in addition, two passenger liners with a total capacity of 1100, one with a capacity of 700 and another with a capacity of 400, had left Indian waters and were travelling towards Yemen. 
 
India said when it is possible to utilize air services through Sana’a, "we will press Air India flights to Sana’a to assist Indian nationals in that region."
 
"As you can see, we are making every effort for the return of our nationals safely from what is a difficult situation in Yemen. We are also in touch with the regional leaders there and will seek their assistance in this difficult situation," said the MEA spokesperson. 
  
Senior United Nations officials on Tuesday expressed their deep concern about the fast deteriorating situation in Yemen, where dozens of civilians have been killed in fighting in recent days.

“The situation in Yemen is extremely alarming, with dozens of civilians killed over the past four days,” said Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, echoing a statement issued by UN Secretary-General's Spokesperson.

“The country seems to be on the verge of total collapse,” the High Commissioner said, calling on all sides to protect civilians from harm, and to resolve their differences through dialogue rather than through the use of military force.

At least 93 civilians were reported to have been killed since 27 March and a further 364 injured in Sana'a, Sa'da, Dhale, Hudayda and Lahj, among whom were “dozens” killed in an airstrike on the Al-Mazraq camp for internally displaced persons that was established by the UN in 2009. 
 
At least another 35 were injured in the raid, including 11 children.