India wrapped up its air evacuation operations from Yemen on Friday morning. Operation Rahat ended with the armed forces rescuing another 630 Indians from Sanaa. General VK Singh who was overseeing the operation came back on Friday morning.
We brought about 110 people back to Mumbai. There are Indians in Yemen who did not want to return. One cannot do anything about it. But we’ve managed to bring back about 5,500 people. We have evacuated about 1000 foreigners too.
– General VK Singh, MoS for External Affairs
The External Affairs Ministry said that the airlifting of over 630 persons from Sanaa on Thursday by three special Air India flights was complete. India has concluded its air evacuation operations that had started on April 3. The evacuation operation was extended by a day following a request by a group of 140 nurses.
General VK Singh said all those who wished to be brought back were evacuated. The rescued civilians were evacuated by 18 special flights. In addition, Indian naval vessels have also evacuated over 1,670 Indians from Aden, Al Hudaydah and Al Mukalla ports in Yemen since 31 March, the MEA said.
Indian Naval Ship INS Sumitra evacuated 349 persons, including 46 Indians and 303 foreign nationals from Al Hudaydah port on April 9.
The entire evacuation effort has resulted in the evacuation of over 5,600 persons. These include over 4,640 Indian nationals and about 960 foreign nationals from 41 countries.
– Ministry of External Affairs
The evacuees were taken to Djibouti from where they were brought back to India in Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft. Yemen has been witnessing a fierce battle between Saudi-led coalition and Shiite rebels, who have battled their way into various cities. Former President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi has fled overseas.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)