India Evacuates 3300 Nationals From Yemen And Is All Set To Help 26 Other Countries Now!

India’s “Operation Rahat” has successfully evacuated a majority of Indians from Yemen and is all set to assist 26 other countries too. Know more about the mission and how all the forces came together to rescue stranded citizens in Yemen’s warzone.

India has always proved that she’ll go an extra mile when it comes to her people. Be it the Gulf War evacuation or rescuing stranded citizens from Jammu and Kashmir during the horrific floods, the country has never disappointed her citizens when it comes to rescue and relief.

And yet again, in the last week India has impressed the world by evacuating thousands of its countrymen from the war-entangled country of Yemen.

India has successfully evacuated over 3,300 Indians in the past couple of days and is all set to wrap up the evacuation operation “Rahat” in the next few days.

Operation Rahat is a perfect example of how India’s pro-activeness and responsiveness is at its best when it is needed the most.

India’s efforts have been so successful that other countries have sought its help to rescue their citizens as well. In just a few days, the Ministry of External Affairs brought together the Indian Navy, the Air Force, and Air India to rescue thousands of nationals stuck in Yemen’s war zone.

Related read: Did You Know That The Largest Air Evacuation In History Was Done By India? 

As reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requests from 26 countries including Germany, Iraq, Egypt, Nepal, USA, Sri Lanka, Singapore, etc. were received for Indian assistance in evacuation from Yemen.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Paris reported that India has evacuated over 200 people from other countries including 7 from France. Though Pakistan did not seek help, India, on humanitarian grounds, evacuated a few Pakistani nationals. The gesture was reciprocated by the neighbouring country as Pakistan brought back 11 Indians from Al Mukallah.

The operation is being managed from Djibouti where evacuees are first taken, and from there they fly back to India in an Indian Air Force aircraft. The fact that the operation has been carried on from a third country itself is a sign of the goodwill enjoyed by India.

The Indian Navy deployed three warships INS Sumitra, INS Mumbai and INS Tarkash for the operation. Air India has deployed three A320 air crafts for evacuation from Sanaa to Djibouti and one A777 for flying Indians from Djibouti to Kochi and Mumbai. The Indian Air Force deployed two C 17 air crafts to fly passengers from Djibouti to India. The Ministry of Home Affairs has given two passenger ships Kavaratti and Corals to carry 1,100 passengers.

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“We shall evacuate all Indian nationals from Yemen. Nobody will be left behind for want of travel documents,” said Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj on Twitter.

Narendra Modi congratulated Vijay Kumar Singh, who has been taking care of the operation from Dijbouti, and Swaraj for their extra ordinary efforts in this crisis.

Our evacuation efforts in Yemen reflect willingness to serve our people & readiness to help others in distress, which is India’s ethos.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 6, 2015

The Indian Railways too came forward and provided confirmed tickets free-of-charge and all hospitality to the evacuees for their onward journey to their hometowns. The Maharashtra government is also giving Rs. 3,000 to each passenger arriving in Mumbai.

As India is on her way to yet another successful operation, we congratulate all the forces who have shown immense dedication and courage to bring our people back safely.

All photos: Twitter

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