MEA explores ways to bring back Indian nationals from Yemen

New Delhi, March 26: Concerned over the situation in Yemen, External Affairs Ministry on Thursday held hectic intra- ministry parleys to explore ways to get its nationals out of the strife-torn country.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also talked to Indian envoy Amrit Lugun about welfare of the Indian community and how best they could be assisted, the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said.

He said an inter-ministerial meeting, chaired by the Secretary (East), examined options available to government to assist Indian nationals in Yemen in current fragile security situation.

Senior officials from ministries of Defence and Overseas Indian Affairs apart from Air India were present in the meeting. The ministry has also set up a 24 hour Control Room to monitor the situation in Yemen where all the airports have been shut down from today, the Spokesperson said.

The Ministry has been issuing advisory to Indians in Yemen

The Ministry has been issuing advisory from time to time, asking all its nationals to leave Yemen immediately given the "fragile" security situation there.

There are about 3,500 Indians, most of whom are nurses, in various provinces of Yemen including Sana'a. Yemen is witnessing attacks by Shiite militiamen on the president and other state figures.

The rising unrest has fuelled longtime divisions in Yemen, where the government, Huthis, southern separatists, powerful Sunni tribes and the local al Qaeda branch are all vying for influence.

PTI