Government working to evacuate Malaysians still in Yemen
Malaysia has evacuated more than 600 people from war-torn Yemen. They include not just Malaysians but nationals from other ASEAN member states. But some have refused to leave despite the escalating tensions in the country.
- POSTED: 15 Apr 2015 20:16
- UPDATED: 15 Apr 2015 21:18
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has been working hard to evacuate students who were trapped after violent clashes erupted in the city of Aden in Yemen.
With the help of Arab states and aid agencies, Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the country has managed to help all 67 Malaysians located in the city.
They were successfully evacuated by sea from Aden to Djibouti. From there, the evacuees were flown to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia by a Royal Malaysian Air Force C-130 aircraft .
Some have arrived home safely at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Wednesday. But the minister said there are others who are unwilling to leave Yemen despite numerous warnings from authorities.
Mr Hishammuddin said some of them are as young as 13-years-old: "I hope parents with children who are now in Yemen, can advise them to fully cooperate with the evacuation process."
Along with the Malaysians who were being evacuated from Yemen were 85 Indonesians, 9 Cambodians, 3 Thais and 2 Vietnamese.
Mr Hishammuddin said Malaysia has a duty to ensure all ASEAN nationals are ferried to safety as it is the chairman of South East Asian grouping. "Since we are chairing ASEAN this year, we are in a way responsible for citizens from other member countries."
Two Malaysian Air Force C-130 planes are currently involved in the evacuation process. This has entered into its third week and looks set to continue with many Malaysians still located in the Hadhramaut region in Yemen.
- CNA/by