349 Indians reach Djibouti from Yemen
(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) INS Sumitra which has been deployed for anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden since March 11 was the first to undertake evacuation from Yemen.
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V K Singh with evacuated Indians in Djibouti on Wednesday. — PTI New Delhi — 349 Indians on Wednesday reached Djibouti after being evacuated on a Navy vessel from strife-torn Yemen’s Aden city late on Tuesday night and will fly to Mumbai soon.
Evacuation took place after India got permission to dock its offshore patrol vessel INS Sumitra at the Aden harbour as the government launched a massive air and sea operation christened “Operation Raahat’ to bring back its over 4000 nationals in Yemen.
INS Sumitra which has been deployed for anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden since March 11 was the first to undertake evacuation from Yemen.
The ship was re-deployed off the Port of Aden on March 30 and thereafter entered Aden Harbour on Tuesday evening.
It waited for hours to get local clearances as heavy fighting was reported in the city. While the ship has self-defence weapons it cannot protect itself against multiple hand-held weapons or shoulder fired missiles.
“The ship evacuated 349 Indians from Aden.... On disembarkation of these personnel at Djibouti the ship is scheduled to return to Aden to undertake further evacuation if required” a statement by the Navy said. Minister of State for External Affairs Gen V K Singh (Retd) interacted with the people there.
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