Sana'a (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A group of 348 Indian nationals were evacuated from Yemen in the last few hours. This was reported by the Delhi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Besides India, in recent days China, Pakistan and Somalia have also sent ships and planes to evacuate their nationals trapped in Aden and Sana'a. Arab coalition air raids continue to pound these zones led by Saudi Arabia against Shiite Houthi rebels.
The group was picked up by a Navy ship and is headed to Djibouti, from where they will return to India by air. The evacuees include over 100 women and 25 children. Today two more ships should reach Yemen to rescue other compatriots trapped in Sana'a and Aden. The Gulf country is home to about 4 thousand Indians, mostly businessmen and nurses.
Until now Beijing has evacuated over 600 countrymen, most of them on three state vessels. State agency Xinhua reports that China has also suspended its anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. Hua Chunying, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, told The Associated Press: "The Chinese government is extremely concerned about the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in Yemen, and took immediate action to evacuate them in a disciplined manner."
Somalia began to evacuate citizens two days ago and has asked all nationals to contact the consulate to facilitate the process. The proximity between Yemen and Somalia has made the Gulf country a transit zone for asylum seekers and migrants. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees the Arab nation is home to about 246 thousand registered refugees, 95% of whom are Somali.
On March 29, Pakistan sent a jet and a frigate to evacuate more than 500 people, including ordinary citizens and diplomatic personnel. About 3 thousand Pakistanis live in Yemen. Pakistan is an old ally of Saudi Arabia, but has not yet joined the coalition led by Riyadh.