19 Indian Seafarers Rescued From Yemen After 14-Day Ordeal
Nineteen Indian seafarers have been safely evacuated from Yemen following a 14-day ordeal caused by regional maritime insecurity.
Nineteen Indian seafarers evacuated Yemen following a harrowing 14-day ordeal caused by the escalating conflict in the region. The Embassy of India in Yemen confirmed on Sunday that the group has been successfully extracted and is currently in the process of returning to India.
Safe Extraction From Hodeidah and Sana’a
The group of seafarers had been stranded across two key locations: the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah and the Yemeni capital, Sana’a. According to an official update shared by the embassy via X, all 19 individuals are reported to be in good health.
While the embassy expressed its gratitude to all parties involved in the rescue operation, specific details regarding the vessel names or the exact sequence of events that led to their entrapment have not been released. Furthermore, authorities have withheld the identities of the seafarers to maintain privacy.
Escalating Maritime Risks in the Red Sea
The situation faced by these sailors is closely linked to the growing maritime insecurity affecting the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The ongoing conflict, marked by ballistic missile interceptions and active air operations, has created a dangerous environment for commercial shipping.
The risks to Indian nationals in the region have become increasingly evident:
- The Ministry of External Affairs recently noted that 23 Indian nationals have been lost in the West Asia conflict since February.
- This figure includes 15 seafarers who lost their lives in the conflict zones.
- Additional casualties have also been reported in shipping-related attacks in the Black Sea.
Continuous Monitoring of Crew Safety
While there were previous reports of 14 Indian nationals on a yacht near Hodeidah being safe following an incident near Yuqar Island, the embassy has not clarified if those individuals were part of this specific group of 19.
The Indian mission continues to closely monitor the safety and security of all Indian workers and crew members operating across the maritime routes of the Gulf and the Red Sea as the regional situation remains volatile.