Passports withheld in Yemen: Centre’s intervention sought
6 April 2015 4:24 AM IST
Kerala Minister for Diaspora K C Joseph said some hospitals in Yemen are withholding passports of nurses because of shortage of health officials in the country as people are wounded or killed in gunfighting and missile attacks.
“This is a very serious situation. Some of our sisters are living in panic because of such situation. I have taken up the matter with the Central government and our embassy officials in that country,” Joseph, who welcomed the Indians arriving at Kochi airport said.
He said Indian officials in Yemen are facilitating the safe homecoming of Indians who do not have necessary documents with them. The minister also said evacuation process in Aden was briefly halted after an Indian Navy vessel was on Saturday denied permission by authorities there. He said 200 Indian nationals were waiting for boarding the ship in Aden area where rebel Houthis have strong presence.
Meanwhile, the nurses who returned from Yemen on Friday night said the situation in that country was “very grave” as even the premises of the hospitals is under attack.
“Instructions have been given that no one should stay on the top floor of the building. Nurses are asked to switch off all lights at night even in hospitals. Others also want to leave that country. But their necessary documents are withheld by hospital authorities there,” a nurse told a TV channel, narrating her colleagues’ ordeal.
Meanwhile, amid war-like conditions in Aden, the Navy on Saturday pressed into action INS Mumbai, a guided-missile destroyer, to evacuate the second batch of Indians from the port city of Yemen.
The warship placed itself just outside Aden harbour as part of ‘Operation Raahat’ as heavy firing was reported in Aden where the Saudi-led coalition is fighting Houthi rebels who are making a bid for the city.
Indian authorities have hired small crafts which are being used to move 30-35 Indians at one time from the port to INS Mumbai, the Navy said.
While the exact number of Indians stranded there is not known, defence sources put it over 200.
“Absolute tough environment at Aden... Evacuation of stranded Indians being carried out in almost war-like conditions by Indian Naval ship Mumbai,” the Navy said.
“This is a very serious situation. Some of our sisters are living in panic because of such situation. I have taken up the matter with the Central government and our embassy officials in that country,” Joseph, who welcomed the Indians arriving at Kochi airport said.
He said Indian officials in Yemen are facilitating the safe homecoming of Indians who do not have necessary documents with them. The minister also said evacuation process in Aden was briefly halted after an Indian Navy vessel was on Saturday denied permission by authorities there. He said 200 Indian nationals were waiting for boarding the ship in Aden area where rebel Houthis have strong presence.
Meanwhile, the nurses who returned from Yemen on Friday night said the situation in that country was “very grave” as even the premises of the hospitals is under attack.
“Instructions have been given that no one should stay on the top floor of the building. Nurses are asked to switch off all lights at night even in hospitals. Others also want to leave that country. But their necessary documents are withheld by hospital authorities there,” a nurse told a TV channel, narrating her colleagues’ ordeal.
Meanwhile, amid war-like conditions in Aden, the Navy on Saturday pressed into action INS Mumbai, a guided-missile destroyer, to evacuate the second batch of Indians from the port city of Yemen.
The warship placed itself just outside Aden harbour as part of ‘Operation Raahat’ as heavy firing was reported in Aden where the Saudi-led coalition is fighting Houthi rebels who are making a bid for the city.
Indian authorities have hired small crafts which are being used to move 30-35 Indians at one time from the port to INS Mumbai, the Navy said.
While the exact number of Indians stranded there is not known, defence sources put it over 200.
“Absolute tough environment at Aden... Evacuation of stranded Indians being carried out in almost war-like conditions by Indian Naval ship Mumbai,” the Navy said.
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