Concerned over the safety of Indians in strife-torn Yemen,
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held an inter-ministerial meeting
during which it was decided to evacuate at least 400 nationals from Aden by sea
routes tonight.
With government's plans to airlift the stranded Indians not
materialising in view of attack on the Yemen airport late last night, the sea
route option was explored and it was decided that a local ship with the
capacity of ferrying 400 passengers will be used to transfer all the Indians in
Aden to Djibouti, where they will reach on Tuesday morning.
In Djibouti, the Indian nationals will be assisted by senior
diplomats and their return to India will be on two large military transport
C-17 Globemaster aircraft.
Announcing government's decision, the Spokesperson in the External
Affairs Ministry, Syed Akbaruddin, said that Minister of State for External
Affairs V K Singh will leave for Djibouti on Tuesday to supervise the
evacuation efforts.
Meanwhile, 80 Indians who had left from Yemen on Saturday for
Djibouti, have returned to their respective states.
After being granted permission to fly from Sanaa, India had sent
two Air India planes. However, because of the attack on the Yemen airport, the
planes were at the airport in Muscat.
The meeting, which was attended by the Air Chief and senior
officials of the Defence and Shipping ministries as well as aviation, also
decided to utilise overseas Indians welfare funds in the region for the
evacuation efforts. Asked if the Indian embassy would be shut as was done by many
countries, he said as long as "our nationals need assistance, the mission
will be there".
Meanwhile, two passenger ships belonging to Lakshadweep
administration with the total capacity of 1,500 passengers left for Djibouti
port from Kochi this morning to evacuate Indians, the Spokesperson said, adding
that the ships will take at least five to seven days to reach their
destination.
The government has also pressed into service INS Sumitra, which
was in the region, to ensure the safety and security of the ship's passengers
from pirates, the Spokesperson said, adding that Indian Navy has also deployed
INS Mumbai and INS Turkush. He also ruled out that there was any land option
available as of now.
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