China helps 10 countries evacuate nationals from Yemen

Members of China's Linyi missile frigate help foreign nationals evacuate from Yemen and arrive in Djibouti, April 2, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

DJIBOUTI - A total of 225 nationals from 10 countries who were evacuated from conflict-ridden Yemen arrived in Djibouti onboard a Chinese frigate on Thursday.

Linyi missile frigate, carrying the group of nationals, departed Yemen for Djibouti at 11:30 a.m. local time and arrived after nearly eight hours of sailing.

The evacuated nationals are from Pakistan, Ethiopia, Singapore, Italy, Germany, Poland, Ireland, Britain, Canada and Yemen.

The evacuees were greeted at the harbor by Djiboutian officials, Chinese ambassador to Djibouti and other diplomats.

Djiboutian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahamoud Ali Youssouf expressed his thanks to China's help in evacuating foreign nationals, saying the move is very touching.

He added that Djibouti will offer assistance and convenience for ensuing evacuation procedures.

It is the first time that a Chinese military vessel has joined in the evacuation of foreign nationals as part of its international humanitarian aid, said Jiang Guoping, a Chinese military official onboard.