464 Pinoys evacuated from war-torn Yemen

A total 464 Filipinos and nine foreigners were successfully evacuated from war-torn Yemen by land through the Yemeni-Saudi border since April 5.

In a statement released Saturday by the Department of Foreign Affairs the evacuation was done in four batches, and of the total 464 evacuated, 240 were already repatriated to the Philippines.

Four flights on April 8, 10, and 11 carried 90 Filipinos home, with 50 arriving in Manila at 10 a.m. on April 11 and another 100 arriving at 3:30 p.m..

The first batch of evacuees from April 5 included 98 Filipinos and a foreigner, while the second batch rescued on April 6 counted 244 Filipinos and a foreigner.

On April 7, 43 Filipinos and a foreigner were rescued. The last batch, taken on April 9, had 79 Filipinos and six foreigners.

More await repatriation in various locations around Yemen, including three in Sana'a and 42 in Saada, all of whom are slated for evacuation by the Philippine Embassy's Crisis Management Team.

"The processing at the Saudi- Yemeni border has been generally smooth, and there are composite teams from the Embassy and the Consulate at the border to assist in the processing of entry of Filipino evacuees from Yemen,” Ambassador Ezzedin Tago said in the statement

The Philippine government raised to 4 the crisis alert level in Yemen in February, ordering mandatory repatriation of Filipinos due to the worsening political and security situation there. — Amanda Fernandez and Rie Takumi/LBG, GMA News

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