With more trouble brewing in Yemen and the international airport there being closed, the Kerala government has opened two control rooms - in Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram - for the Indians stranded there, said a state minister.
Minister for Diaspora KC Joseph told IANS on today that it's a bit unfortunate that people from here who are working in troubled places like Yemen, Iraq and Libya do not wake up to situations in time.
"Early this month, the Indian Embassy had announced an 'open house' in Yemen for Indians there to get registered if they wanted a smooth passage. But no one came forward. Now people want to return, but we are told that the international airport in Yemen is closed," said Mr Joseph.
"The biggest problem is that neither the state nor the Centre has any statistics on the number of Indians or for that matter Keralites who are there in Yemen. I today spoke to a few people who are in Yemen. They said bombings are taking place and they are unable to fly back as the airport is closed," said Joseph.
"There are limits to which we as a government can go. We will never ever blame people who go to work abroad. We faced numerous troubles and so did the nurses who were repatriated at the height of disturbances in Iraq. People work in areas where there are difficulties. When situation worsens, they wish to return. But now the airport at Yemen is closed. What will they do, even if they want to return," asked a worried Joseph.
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