But MEA's efforts to evacuate people from Yemen haven't just been confined to Indians. With India having set up a concerted effort using Naval ships and requesting airspace windows for flights out of Sana'a, a host of other nations have asked for help in getting their own citizens out of the war-torn nation as well. Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson for the MEA, tweeted out a list of the nations that have sent requests for help to India.
Requests for Indian assistance in evacuation from Yemen keeps growing. On last count 26 requests received. pic.twitter.com/hn3TScsvFh
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) April 6, 2015
With r citizens, have assisted others in distress in Yemen 200 + from 20 other countries of Africa, Asia, Europe & N.America in growing list
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) April 5, 2015
More than 200 citizens from other countries have so far been evacuated through India's efforts alongside the thousands of Indians, and, according to Akbaruddin, that list has been steadily growing on a daily basis. It doesn't hurt that India is well-schooled in the task of having to evacuate its citizens from dangerous areas.
India's success at doing this might be causing a little embarrassment elsewhere. US news channel CNN, reported on America's request for Indian help.
RT @ramprasad_c: CNN in US: "India is rescuing its citizens and offering to rescue Americans. Are we not capable?" pic.twitter.com/EL03VNpV0k
— Amish Tripathi (@authoramish) April 7, 2015
Dubbed Operation Raahat (relief), the evacuation effort should see nearly all Indian citizens out of the country by this week. India has been working with Saudi Arabia to fly out of the country, by negotiating windows of time even though the airspace has generally been turned into a no-fly zone. Meanwhile, five ships from the Indian Navy have been moving citizens from Yemen to Djibouti from where India has been flying them back to the country.
Even India and Pakistan, not always the most cordial of neighbours, have managed to work together in this evacuation effort. INS Sumitra has evacuated Pakistani nationals over the course of the effort, while a Pakistani Navy ship was also involved in rescuing Indians.
148 Pakistanis safely evacuated today.35 foreign nationals -8 Chinese,11 Indians & 4 British also on board. PNS will reach Khi on Apr. 7.
— SpokespersonMOFA (@ForeignOfficePk) April 4, 2015
As with previous conflicts in the Middle East that included a number of Indian citizens caught in the crossfire, however, here too there have been Indians who would rather not return. Keralite nurses, burdened by debt, would rather not leave jobs that pay much better than what they would get back at home. But the violence is unlikely to end anytime soon, which is why India has been insistent on getting its citizens out.
#YemenEvacuation "Almost all Indians will be evacuated by this evening" : Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) April 6, 2015