Egypt is communicating with Oman and Saudi Arabia to facilitate the return of Egyptians from Yemen through Saudi and Omani border crossings. The move comes in light of the deteriorating situation in Yemen, an Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement Monday said.
The movement of flights in and out of Yemen to Egypt has been suspended since Wednesday, following Saudi Arabia’s announcement of airstrike operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The Egyptian Ambassador to Yemen returned to Cairo from Aden on the same day of Saudi Arabia’s announcement.
The Omani authorities have agreed to allow Egyptian nationals to travel from Yemen to Oman through the Al-Mazyouna and Sarfait border crossings.
The Foreign Ministry said there will be coordination with the Egyptian embassy in Muscat should there be cases of invalid passports or the inability to buy a plane ticket. The embassy is also discussing sending an Egyptian consular mission to the border crossings with Yemen.
However, ongoing calls are taking place with Saudi authorities to determine a border crossing for the flow of Egyptians.
The number of Egyptians in Yemen range between 6,000-7,000, some of whom are looking for employment, said Minister of Manpower and Immigration Nahed Al-Ashry in a statement Tuesday.
Egypt supported Saudi Arabia in the airstrikes and noted that “political and military” support will be provided to Saudi Arabia against the Houthis following the airstrikes. Egyptian authorities added that, “if necessary”, ground troops will be provided as well.
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi noted during the recent Arab League Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh that intervention in Yemen is “inevitable”.
Houthis, Shi’a rebels in Yemen, forced Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi out of the capital, Sana’a, which has been under their control since September 2014.
The Arab League, upon Hadi’s request, concluded its meeting on Sunday with the continuation of strikes on Yemen until Houthi rebels “back off” and legitimacy is returned to Hadi.
Despite the ongoing turmoil in Yemen, tens of Yeminis in Egypt have demonstrated in front of the Yemini embassy calling for the facilitation of their return to their homeland due to their inability to live in Egypt.
