Kochi: Kerala on Saturday sought Centre's urgent intervention after nurses who returned from Yemen yesterday complained that some of their colleagues could not leave the war-torn country as their passports were not given by the authorities there.
Kerala Minister for Diaspora KC Joseph said some hospitals in Yemen are withholding passports of nurses because of shortage of health officials in the country as people are wounded or killed in gunfighting and missile attacks.
"This is a very serious situation. Some of our sisters are living in panic because of such situation. I have taken up the matter with the Central government and our embassy officials in that country," Joseph, who welcomed the Indians arriving at Kochi airport, told PTI.
He said Indian officials in Yemen are facilitating the safe homecoming of Indians who do not have necessary documents with them.
The Minister also said evacuation process in Aden was briefly halted after an Indian Navy vessel was today denied permission by authorities there. He said 200 Indian nationals were waiting for boarding the ship in Aden area where rebel Houthis have strong presence.
Later, a Navy official said here that INS Mumbai outside Aden harbour has commenced evacuation of stranded Indians in an "absolute tough environment".
Meanwhile, the nurses who returned from Yemen last night said the situation in that country was "very grave" as even the premises of the hospitals are under attack.
"Instructions have been given that no one should stay on the top floor of the building. Nurses are asked to switch off all lights at night even in hospitals. Others also want to leave that country. But their necessary documents are withheld by hospital authorities there," a nurse told a TV channel, narrating her colleagues' ordeal.
Over 660 Indians evacuated from Yemen arrived home by two IAF planes and a special Air India flight yesterday night, taking the total number of evacuees who have been safely brought back from the strife-torn country to 1,022.
