Earlier on Sunday, MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told the New York Times that as the situation in Yemen continued to worsen, no more evacuation from Aden may be possible.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that almost all Indians would be evacuated from strife-torn Yemen by Monday evening.
Parrikar's statement comes after the Indian rescue mission Operation Raahat faced increasing difficulties in reaching Indians, especially in Aden. On Monday, Yemen's Shia Houthi rebels reportedly advanced further into the port city of Aden, despite air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition.
Earlier on Sunday, MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told the New York Times that as the situation in Yemen continued to worsen, no more evacuation from Aden may be possible. "It’s been a hard task, and as the situation worsens, the time available to us lessens,” he said.
INS Sumitra could not make a stop in Al Mukallah port in Aden on Saturday resulting in it getting diverted to the nearest port of Ash Shihr, about 25 kms east Northeast of Al Mukallah. The Indians from the city were moved to Ash Shihr port from where they were transferred to the Navy vessel using smaller boats under Operation Raahat, defence sources said. Due to the security situation, INS Sumitra had anchored about three kilometres outside the port. "All Indians have been evacuated from the Mukallah area," a Navy official said.
Official sources said the evacuation operation was going on notwithstanding the deteriorating situation across Yemen. "We hope to complete the evacuation operation in the next few days," they said. A no-fly zone enforced in Yemeni airspace by international coalition has made it difficult to evacuate Indians by air, they said, adding India has been requesting Saudi Arabia to allow aerial sorties to Saana on daily basis.
The number of Indians across Yemen has been reported to be around 5,000, out of which 1,000 were women married to Yemeni nationals. The number of Indians in Saana would be around 3,000 while around 554 were in Aden and 298 were in offshore oil fields.
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