PM Modi lauds Yemen evacuation efforts, says this shows India's willingness to serve its people

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday applauded the services provided by civilians, defence officials and various organisations for evacuating stranded Indian citizens and foreign nationals from strife-torn Yemen adding that such efforts reflect India's willingness to serve its people.

On microblogging website Twitter, PM wrote: “Salute the services of our civilian & defence officials & organisations in helping evacuate our citizens from Yemen. Continue your efforts!”

Salute the services of our civilian & defence officials & organisations in helping evacuate our citizens from Yemen. Continue your efforts! — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 6, 2015

In another tweet PM congratulated the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Air India, Shipping, Railways & State governments for pitching into the rescue operations.

Seamless co-operation between organisations- MEA, Navy, Air Force, Air India, Shipping, Railways & State Govts greatly helped in rescue work — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 6, 2015

In a special mention, in his tweet, PM highlighted the efforts taken by Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Minister of state for external affairs VK Singh for guiding the entire evacuation process.

Colleagues @SushmaSwaraj & @Gen_VKSingh (who has been on the ground for days), have co-ordinated evacuation efforts in an exemplary manner. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 6, 2015

“I am also glad that India has rescued several non-Indian citizens from Yemen,” PM further tweeted.

I am also glad that India has rescued several non-Indian citizens from Yemen. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 6, 2015

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

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said, “Almost all Indians to be evacuated from Yemen by this evening.”

He also praised the Indian Navy for their commendable job in the rescue operations.

"The Indian Navy has been doing a great job. Almost 3,000 Indians stranded in Yemen have been evacuated. The Indian nationals, including some foreigners, have been shifted without injury or a single loss of life," he said.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had on Sunday assured that all Indian nationals would be evacuated from Yemen.

"We shall evacuate all Indian nationals from Yemen. Nobody will be left behind for want of travel documents," she tweeted.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had yesterday confirmed that 488 Indians had been evacuated from Sana`a, while a further 182 were rescued from coastal town Ash Shihr.

This followed the rescue of 439 Indians by the Indian Navy`s guided-missile destroyer INS Mumbai from Yemen`s port city Aden earlier on Saturday.