India on Monday stepped up efforts to evacuate its citizens stranded in conflict-hit Yemen. Two passenger ships left Kochi on Monday for Djibouti port to bring back Indians stranded in the Gulf country even as three Keralites returned home from Yemen. Around 7,000 Indians are working in Yemen and more than half of them are said to be Keralites.
The two ships, MV Kavaratti and MV Corals belonging to the lakshadweep Administration, left Kochi with sufficient stock of water, food and medicines. Doctors and nurses are part of the 150-member crew on the two ships, officials of the Kochi Port Trust, which was in charge of the coordination activities of the mission, said.
MV Kavaratti had started its voyage from Kochi to lakshadweep on Sunday but it was called back in the evening to facilitate the journey to the Gulf. The two ships started the voyage into international waters soon after the Government decided on the evacuation of Indians stranded in Yemen.
Though the two ships were currently heading towards Djibouti, the actual port of call would be decided by the Centre in the coming days depending on the situation at the harbours on the southern Yemen coast. Keralites stranded in Aden say that the situation at Yemeni ports is not conducive for evacuation operations presently.
“The two ships have a combined capacity of ferrying 1,200 passengers in total comfort and we hope that they can accommodate 20 percent more passengers on the trip back,” said a Port Trust official. “Considering the distance to Djibouti and the speed at which the ships cruise, we expect them to reach the destination in five or seven days,” he added.
Meanwhile, Keralites working in Yemen said life was becoming hard by each passing day. “As of now, everything except military installations and Defence equipment is intact,” Babu John, Operations Manager of an oil facility situated some 600 km away from Sana’a, told The Pioneer. He also said that power supply was normal as there were not blackouts.
John said the food-and-water situation was normal presently but it need not remain so in the days ahead. “The Indian Embassy people are trying their level best to help Indians return home. The criticisms being aired by certain TV channels in Kerala are inappropriate. Complaints, yes, but allegations of callousness are not true,” he said.
At the same time, three Keralites returned home from Yemeni capital Sana’a on Monday. Ruben Jacob Chandy of Changanassery landed at Thiruvananthapuram airport early Monday morning while Jacob Kora from Kanjirappally and lijo George from Irattupetta arrived at the Kochi International Airport by 8.30 AM.
The three Keralites said they were first transferred from Sana’a to Djibouti by air and the Indian Embassy there had made all the arrangements for their travel. “The situation there is quite scary. Airstrikes start at 6.00 PM and go on till 6.00 AM. Though the residential areas have been spared from the strikes, the people are very afraid,” said Ruben Chandy.
“The attacks are intense and these loud thuds and shrieks of missiles are always there, especially in the nights. Many Keralites are willing to return but nobody is certain when evacuation would actually happen. luckily, internet connection is available and power is still not affected, communication systems are intact,” said Jacob Kora.
In the meantime, KC Joseph, Kerala’s Minister in charge of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs, said the situation in Yemen was quite serious. He rejected reports suggesting that money was being demanded from those who wanted to return. “All humanly possible efforts are being made to bring back our people,” Joseph said.
