Horror struck Indian evacuees recount 'sleepless nights, incessant bombardments' in Yemen

Djibouti: Recounting their ordeals, evacuees from Yemen have narrated their tales of horror during their stay in that war-torn country. One of the evacuated nationals, Nickson, said they had sleepless nights due to continuous bombing.

"Morning time there was no problem. At night, they started (firing at) the targeted points of Saudi fighters. They attacked the target points. There was huge sound, we could not sleep at night and building shook near us. The target point was very near our house. It shook the entire house. We were scared too much," said Nickson.

Another evacuee, Marie, who is also a mother of two, spoke about her daily struggles in the country.

"Problem facing, humanitarian need, you know. There is no water, there is no electricity, the bombing is going on. Where I stay, the mountain was being bombed; the ammunition there was being bombed. Our embassy, they helped us to get out, but they took a long time in (evacuating) me, my two kids because we had to take visa," she said.

One of the passengers who landed in Kochi thanked the government for providing the transport facility and the money to the passengers to reach home.

"Yemen Government supported us. Indian embassy also arranged everything for us. They gave us money to reach the airport on time. They have made arrangements," she said.

Hundreds of Indian evacuees from strife-torn Yemen arrived in Mumbai and Kochi on Tuesday and recounted horrific experiences faced by them in the conflict zone.

India is trying to get around 4,000 nationals, more than half of them nurses, out of Yemen, where Shi'ite Houthi fighters have swept into the southern port city of Aden despite an air campaign led by Saudi Arabia to check their advance.

Evacuees arrived in Djibouti on Monday from where Indian Air Force plane brought them to Mumbai.

The government has launched massive operation to pull out its citizens from the conflict zone. So far, 3000 people have been evacuated.

"Situation in Yemen, especially southern part is becoming slightly worse. That is why we have more fighting in Aden. And that is why one of our ships could not dock at that time and we have to move people by smaller ports. As of now, we have taken approximately about 2,500 people and after today's movement, especially with the ship, I expect about 3000- plus people would have already reached home. Our aim is that all those who wish to leave should be able to leave," said Minister of State for External Affairs, V.K. Singh.

New Delhi has issued a series of warnings this year to Indian nationals to leave Yemen, the last of them shortly before Saudi Arabia launched air strikes against Iranian-allied Houthi militiamen.