By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/foreigners-stranded-yemen-await-emergency-flights Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Foreigners stranded in Yemen await emergency flights World Apr 14, 2015 10:43 AM EDT After more than a week of planning, the International Organization for Migration was able to fly 141 people out of Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Sunday before Saudi-led airstrikes began anew. “It’s taken a huge amount of coordination with the various parties involved,” said Leonard Doyle, an IOM spokesman. “We’re in the middle of a conflict situation, so we have to be extra careful.” More than 16,000 of people from other countries are stranded in Yemen, where rebels are fighting the current regime. Doyle said 38 countries have asked the IOM for help getting their citizens out. The passengers on its one successful flight were from Sudan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, the United States, some European countries, Syria, Iraq and Indonesia, he said. They were flown to Khartoum, Sudan, where they were able to get more assistance from their consulates. When asked about the stranded Americans, Jeff Rathke, acting deputy spokesman for the State Department, told reporters on Thursday he did not have the number of U.S. citizens remaining in Yemen, but that the department is “monitoring the situation in Yemen closely because, of course, protecting American citizens is a top priority for us.” He said the department is in contact with the Americans in Yemen and advising them about the opportunities available to them if they want to leave. Foreigners and Yemenis wait for their evacuation flight at Sanaa airport on April 13. Photo by Mohamed al-Sayaghi/Reuters Earlier this year, the minority Shia Houthi rebels, who have long felt marginalized in the majority Sunni country, forced President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi from power after taking over the capital. On March 26, Saudi-led airstrikes began targeting the rebels to try to prevent them from moving south. The World Health Organization estimated at least 648 people have died since the conflict escalated in March, and said the humanitarian situation is “critical” due to severe shortages of water, electricity and fuel. The WHO and Doctors Without Borders have reported difficulties getting aid and medical supplies into the country. Hundreds of people already have crossed the Gulf of Aden by ship and entered Djibouti, Somalia’s Puntland and Somaliland, and the U.N. refugee agency expects another 130,000 will flee Yemen in the next six months. Follow @NewsHourWorld We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko produced multimedia web features and broadcast reports with a focus on foreign affairs for the PBS NewsHour. She has reported in places such as Jordan, Pakistan, Iraq, Haiti, Sudan, Western Sahara, Guantanamo Bay, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Turkey, Germany and Ireland. @NewsHourWorld
After more than a week of planning, the International Organization for Migration was able to fly 141 people out of Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Sunday before Saudi-led airstrikes began anew. “It’s taken a huge amount of coordination with the various parties involved,” said Leonard Doyle, an IOM spokesman. “We’re in the middle of a conflict situation, so we have to be extra careful.” More than 16,000 of people from other countries are stranded in Yemen, where rebels are fighting the current regime. Doyle said 38 countries have asked the IOM for help getting their citizens out. The passengers on its one successful flight were from Sudan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, the United States, some European countries, Syria, Iraq and Indonesia, he said. They were flown to Khartoum, Sudan, where they were able to get more assistance from their consulates. When asked about the stranded Americans, Jeff Rathke, acting deputy spokesman for the State Department, told reporters on Thursday he did not have the number of U.S. citizens remaining in Yemen, but that the department is “monitoring the situation in Yemen closely because, of course, protecting American citizens is a top priority for us.” He said the department is in contact with the Americans in Yemen and advising them about the opportunities available to them if they want to leave. Foreigners and Yemenis wait for their evacuation flight at Sanaa airport on April 13. Photo by Mohamed al-Sayaghi/Reuters Earlier this year, the minority Shia Houthi rebels, who have long felt marginalized in the majority Sunni country, forced President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi from power after taking over the capital. On March 26, Saudi-led airstrikes began targeting the rebels to try to prevent them from moving south. The World Health Organization estimated at least 648 people have died since the conflict escalated in March, and said the humanitarian situation is “critical” due to severe shortages of water, electricity and fuel. The WHO and Doctors Without Borders have reported difficulties getting aid and medical supplies into the country. Hundreds of people already have crossed the Gulf of Aden by ship and entered Djibouti, Somalia’s Puntland and Somaliland, and the U.N. refugee agency expects another 130,000 will flee Yemen in the next six months. Follow @NewsHourWorld We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now