Very few Kerala nurses in Yemen want to return: Minister

Of approximate 3,000 Kerala nurses, a total of 823 have returned to India since evacuation began last week.

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Thiruvananthapuram:  Very few Kerala nurses in violence-hit Yemen want to return to India, a Kerala minister said here on Monday.

"There are 45 Kerala nurses working in Yemen's Mabar area. I got a call from them. They said only 10 are willing to return," Minister for Diaspora K.C. Joseph told IANS.

Joseph was speaking after a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy with representatives of those who have returned from Yemen.

He said: "Our request to all Keralites in Yemen is that they should use the evacuation arrangements and return. Things could change for the worse and later things might become difficult."

Of approximate 3,000 Kerala nurses, a total of 823 have returned to India since evacuation began last week.

Joseph said he has spoken to Indian ambassador in Yemen on Sunday night about the situation in that country.

"Every day there are four flights that airlift Indians from Sanaa airport to Djibouti. And from there Indians are being flown to Mumbai and Kochi.

"We have now requested the central government to see that all flights that come into Mumbai be re-directed to Kochi," said Joseph.

IANS