1460 Egyptians exit from Yemen since airstrikes: Foreign ministry

Saturday 18-04-2015 10:07 PM
1460 Egyptians exit from Yemen since airstrikes: Foreign ministry

Civil defence workers and people search for survivors under the rubble of houses destroyed by an air strike near Sanaa Airport March 26, 2015. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

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An evacuation operation has helped a total of 1460 Egyptians exit Yemen since a Saudi-led coalition began conducting airstrikes in the strife-torn country on 25 March, a spokesman for the Egyptian foreign ministry said on Saturday.

Badr Abdel Aty, the foreign ministry spokesman, revealed Egypt has continued to facilitate the departure of expats via Oman, Saudi Arabia and Djibouti.

He added that Al-Tawal crossing on the Saudi border has received 160 Egyptians in the past few days, making the total number of Egyptians who fled Yemen through the crossing rise to 1176.  

Between 6,000 and 7,000 Egyptian expats are working and living in Yemen, according to an earlier estimate by Egypt's manpower and immigration ministry.

Abdel Aty added in a statement on Saturday that the foreign ministry is closely following the latest developments affecting the Egyptian community in Yemen.

He also pointed out that the task of consular missions will continue despite the apparent decline in the number of Egyptians wishing to return to Egypt.

Egypt is participating in the ongoing military campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen with its navy and air force, and has also not ruled out the possibility of deploying ground troops if needed.

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