Yemen crisis: Number of Indian evacuees reach 4,000 mark

NEW DELHI: The total number of Indian evacuees from war-ravaged Yemen today touched 4000 mark with nearly 700 more nationals, including 600 from Sanaa, rescued in three air sorties as government decided to end the air evacuation operation tomorrow.

While 600 were rescued by Air India, over 100 were being evacuated from Al Hudaydah by INS Turkish, officials said.

"We will end our air evacuation efforts from Sanaa tomorrow and all those who want to leave should do so by tomorrow," the Spokesperson in the 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, 11 Indians who were evacuated by the Pakistan Navy's Aslat from Yemen's southeastern city of Mukallah reached Karachi today and are expected to return home tomorrow.

Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh, who oversaw the rescue operation of Indians in Djibouti, was at Sanaa today to assess the ground situation.

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.

Yemen has been witnessing fierce battle between Saudi-led coalition and Shiite rebels, who have battled their way into various cities Yemen including in the former stronghold of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi who has fled overseas.