Turkish citizens evacuated from Yemen arrive home

DJIBOUTI - Anadolu Agency

AA Photo

While they were glad to be home with their loved ones in Turkey, the 55 Turkish citizens who were recently evacuated from Yemen also wished for peace for the Yemeni locals they left behind.

Speaking with The Anadolu Agency after arriving at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport from Yemen via Djibouti late April 4, the evacuated Turks talked about the harrowing experience of witnessing bombing campaigns in the strife-ridden country.

“We are coming from the Yemeni seaport city of Aden, where we were exposed to heavy bombing… It was a very difficult time for us,” Ali Üşümüş said.

“Yemen and Aden are in ruins. Local people there are in a tough situation,” Üşümüş said, adding he was glad to have made it safely back home to his loved ones.

There were many families at the airport who were overjoyed to see their loved ones return home safely.

“We have just come together, but it was horrible waiting for her with no information at all,” Nebi Öcal said after he welcomed his daughter at the airport.

Yemen has been in turmoil since September, when Houthi militia overran the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, from where they allegedly planned to extend their influence to other parts of the country.

Several Arab states have joined the Saudi-led offensive in Yemen, which began on March 25 with a string of airstrikes on Houthi militia positions.

According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the Turkish naval vessel TCG Buyukada Frigate evacuated 55 Turkish citizens from the Yemeni port city of Aden and later dropped them off in Djibouti April 3.

Turkish embassy officials then escorted the citizens to the airport in Djibouti, where they boarded a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul April 4.