India to send ships to Yemen to evacuate stranded Indians

Thiruvananthapuram: The Centre will soon send two ships to strife-torn Yemen to evacuate Indians, including Keralites, stranded there.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has told Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, that since all the airports in Yemen are closed, the plan is to bring people to the neighbouring country Djibouti by ships and from there to India in aircraft, a government release said here.

Those who cannot be brought by ship would be taken to Saudi Arabia by road and from there to India, Swaraj was quoted as saying in the release.

The Keralites, residing in Yemen, informed the Chief Minister over phone that the passports and certificates of those working in hospitals have been held back, which is creating problems for their return to home, it said.

Following the information, Chandy has urged the Indian Ambassador at Yemen to immediately intervene in the issue and resolve it.

Chandy also requested that those who are willing to return should contact the Indian Embassy at Yemen, the release added.