Two Indian ships carrying 475 evacuees including Indians, Bangladeshi nationals and Yemenis of Indian origin from strife-torn Yemen arrived at Kochi port on Saturday afternoon, bringing the massive evacuation mission, Operation Rahat undertaken by the Indian Government, to a successful conclusion. The two ships, MV Kavaratti and MV Corals, had sailed out of Djibouti on April 12.
The ships and their passengers were given a warm welcome at the Kochi port by State Minister for Non-Resident Keralites' Affairs KC Joseph, Hybi Eden MlA, the Ernakulam District Collector and Naval personnel amidst a performance by the Naval band. Kavaratti and Corals had left Kochi on March 30 for bringing home the Indians stranded in Yemen.
Of the 475 evacuees who reached Kochi on the two ships, 337 were Bangladeshi nationals while 65 were Yemenis of Indian origin. The remaining 73 passengers were Indians and 16 of them were Keralites. Minister Joseph congratulated and thanked all personnel who had ensured the success of the huge mission.
The two ships were escorted initially by INS Tarkash, and INS Tir accompanied them up to the Kochi harbor mouth from where two fast interceptor craft took over the job. Kavaratti and Corals were provided security cover by the Indian Navy with two warships, INS Mumbai and INS Tarkash, on their journey to Djibouti.
This was the last evacuation exercise undertaken by India since the escalation of the war in the Gulf country. Most of the evacuees were brought home by aircraft from Djibouti and the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, via Djibouti. The Indian Naval ships had also evacuated a large number of foreign nationals from war-torn Yemen.
India had undertaken a massive air and sea evacuation mission late last month to bring back its nationals stranded in Yemen. The air evacuation concluded on April 9 after over 4,700 Indians and nearly 1,000 foreigners belonging to 41 countries were evacuated. Indian naval vessels had evacuated 1,670 Indians from the Yemeni ports of Aden, Al Hudaydah and Al Mukalla.
Bangladeshi officials had reached Kochi to take their nationals brought by the ships to Dhaka by chartered aircraft from the international airport at nearby Nedumbassery. However, the Government was yet to take a final decision on the 65 Yemenis of Indian origin who had reached Kochi on the two ships.
Those who have reached home from Yemen since April 3 say that many, mostly nurses, are yet to return from the Gulf country. "There are several Malayalees still working in Yemen. But they are determined not to come back just because of the financial problems they have to face at home," said Suresh Babu, a petroleum professional who left Yemen before the war peaked.
"It has been a great mission and a great lesson, and we must give its credit to the Government of India and Kerala Government, especially Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the Norka. I had never expected this operation to be this smooth because I know how difficult a region it is," said Babu John, who had spent close to two decades in Yemen.
"There were moments of tension and hiccups, especially after the evacuation of 203 persons from Al Mukalla. When I review the situation now, I am convinced that it was all related to the pressures we and the officials were feeling in that particular situation. Also, individuals and companies in Yemen had extended a lot of cooperation and assistance," John said.