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Operation Raahat: 349 evacuated Indians reach Djibouti from strife-torn Yemen

Evacuation took place after India tonight got permission to dock its ship at the Aden harbour as the government launched a massive air and sea evacuation operation for its over 4,000 nationals in Yemen.

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File Photo: Cochin Port- Passenger Ship MV Kavaratti leaves from Cochin Port on Monday for Djibouti Port to evacuate Indians stranded in conflict-hit Yemen.
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349 Indians on Wednesday reached Djibouti after being evacuated on a Navy vessel from strife-torn Yemen's Aden city late last night and will fly to Mumbai soon.

"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.

The first of two aircrafts with the evacuated Indians will land in Mumbai at around 8pm. The second flight is scheduled to land in Mumbai at around 9pm.

Defence sources said the vessel has docked at Djibouti and Minister of State for External Affairs Gen V K Singh (Retd) will interact with the people there.

Out of the 348 people who are on board, 220 are men, 100 females and 28 kids. Evacuation of Yemen operations has been christened as ‘Operation Raahat’.

Evacuation took place after India tonight got permission to dock its ship at the Aden harbour as the government launched a massive air and sea evacuation operation for its over 4,000 nationals in Yemen.

MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told ANI, "I can confirm to you that national effort is underway to bring back our nationals who are engulfed in the turbulence in Yemen. Last night the first phase of this national effort involving the Indian navy was successful,”

“This is a national effort and an effort involving various aspects of India’s national assets like the airforce, navy and diplomatic assets. We will continue this effort until we are able to bring back all back our nationals,” he added.

The ship is now on its way to Djibouti, a country neighbouring Yemen.

“We were able to evacuate almost 350 of our nationals from Aden in the darkness of night, even while there were issues of their security etc. And these Indian nationals are now onboard INS Sumitra, which has sailed towards Djibouti. We expect that it would reach Djibouti by mid-day today, local time,” said Akbaruddin.

Two warships have been pressed into service besides two passenger ships while the Indian Air Force has put on stand-by two C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft.

Air India has stationed two 180-seater Airbus A320 planes in Muscat for evacuation of Indians from Yemen's capital Sanaa to Djibouti whenever a clearance is given by the concerned authorities.

Meanwhile, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin, in a series of tweets said, "Sailing away from troubles. INS Sumitra set sail for Djibouti late last night from Aden with 348 Indian nationals evacuated from Yemen. INS Sumitra to reach Djibouti with Indians evacuated from Yemen by mid-day. Arrangements in place to receive them there."

The Defence sources said four ships, including destroyer INS Mumbai and stealth frigate INS Tarkash -- will reach Yemen by Saturday. Two merchant vessels - Kavaratti and Coral - have also been dispatched.

The four ships are to join each other in Arabian Sea on April 2 and proceed as a composite group to Djibouti.The two 180-seater aircraft dispatched by Air India yesterday remain stuck in the Oman capital Muscat due to want of clearance from the authorities.

Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh headed for Djibouti to oversee the evacuation exercise christened 'Operation Raahat'.

Saudi-led coalition warplanes pounded Yemen's Shiite rebels for a sixth day today, destroying missiles and weapons depots and for the first time using warships to bomb the rebel-held airport and eastern outskirts of the port city of Aden.

(With inputs from Ateeq Shaikh / agencies)

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