India evacuated 6,688 people from Yemen

New Delhi, Apr 20: India evacuated 1,947 people from 48 countries besides 4,741 of its own nationals from war-torn Yemen and the operation was a "resounding success", acknowledged by the international community, government told the Lok Sabha.

Making a suo motu statement, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that after the "successful" conclusion of the evacuation process, India has shifted its embassy from Yemen's capital Sana'a to Djibouti in view of the worsening situation there.

Under the operation 'Raahat', 6,688 people were evacuated from Yemen, including 4,741 Indians and 1,947 foreign nationals by air and sea routes, she said. ['Operation Rahat' ends, Indian ships return home from Yemen]

"I am glad to inform this August House that operation 'Raahat' conducted for the evacuation of Indian nationals from war-torn Yemen has been a resounding success, well- acknowledged by the international community.

"We not only managed to safely evacuate 4,741 Indians but also 1,947 foreign nationals from 48 countries till 18 April under most difficult circumstances," she said. [Sushma Swaraj's statement on Yemen creates a ruckus]

Swaraj said India had received formal requests from 33 countries, including some neighbouring and western nations, for assistance in evacuation of their nationals as the Indian embassy was among the handful of foreign missions operational in Sana’a after the airstrikes began.

"We responded positively to these requests to the extent possible based on ground realities and helped nationals of 48 countries in evacuation," the Minister said.

India's approach in the evacuation process has been guided by the spirit of 'vasudev kutumbakam' (the whole world is one), Swaraj said.

While giving details about the evacuation process and related developments, she said, "in view of the worsening security situation in Sana’a and after the successful conclusion of the evacuation process, we have relocated our Embassy to Djibouti on April 15."

She said the Indian Embassy would continue to operate from Djibouti till the situation returns to normal in Yemen.

PTI