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Yemen rescue mission: Here`s the first image of `Squadron of C17 Globemaster III`
Sitanshu Kar, principal spokesperson of Ministry of Defence on late Friday night published the first picture of the entire Squadron of C17 Globemaster III, who tirelessly worked for 10 days to evacuate people from the strife-torn Yemen.
New Delhi: Sitanshu Kar, principal spokesperson of Ministry of Defence on late Friday night published the first picture of the entire Squadron of C17 Globemaster III, who tirelessly worked for 10 days to evacuate people from the strife-torn Yemen.
On microblogging website Twitter, he wrote: “#YemenEvacuation Entire Squadron of C17 Globemaster III at Hindan after their 10-day task of flying back evacuees.”
On Friday, India ended "Operation Rahat", the massive evacuation effort of its nationals from Yemen, pulling out 5,600 people - 4,640 Indians and 960 nationals from 41 other countries - but some 200 Indians have declined to leave the country despite shelling and bombing intensifying.
The youngest to be evacuated is a three-day-old baby who was flown back to Kochi inside an incubator.
India also got a thank you from France for evacuating some of its nationals from the strife-torn country.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted: "France thanks India for enormous efforts in Yemen evacuation."
India also pulled out 272 Bangladesh nationals.
Akbaruddin further wrote : "Support for a neighbour. Bangladesh's Ambassador in Djiboiti with 272 compatriots evacuated by INS Sumitra from Yemen."
However, according to Anil Wadhwa, secretary (East) in the external affairs ministry, there are some 200 Indians who are refusing to leave Yemen, though the Indian officials are regularly urging them to get out.
According to reports, the air evacuation has ended but the sea evacuation will end today. The Yemen evacuation process is considered to be one of the largest in recent times by India.
The evacuation began by sea on March 26 and by air on April 1.
Minister of State for External Affairs,A VK Singh, who returned on Friday morning, said that Mission Yemen has been successful because of good team work and coordination.
Speaking to reporters, he said that there was good coordination between Air India, the Indian Air Force, the Indian Navy and the external affairs ministry.
India had posted 20 officials to oversee the evacuation effort, including five in Djibouti and five in Sana'a.
(With Agency inputs)