Thais in Yemen warned of worsening crisis

BANGKOK, February 16 (TNA) - Thai nationals in Yemen have been warned to be on high alert and well-prepared for a sudden evacuation, if necessary, and register their names and addresses with the Thai Embassy as soon as possible amid the worsening political crisis in the Arab country in Southwest Asia. The Thai Embassy in Muscat, Oman's capital, which oversees Thailand's affairs and citizens in Yemen, has raised its warning advisory against violent unrest in Yemen to the "yellow" or level 2 and asked Thai citizens, including students, in the crisis-stricken country to avoid all areas at risk and closely follow up the updated situation, while also stocking up food and water supplies and even looking into evacuation plans guided by the Thai Embassy. The latest warning advisory, issued by the Thai Embassy in Muscat on Monday, followed a recent takeover of Yemen's national administraton by the armed Houthi group with key Yemeni government leaders, including President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, Prime Minister Khalid Bahah and other Cabinet members, having been under house arrest, causing political uncertainty with escalating violent unrest, as well as a possible expansion of influence by an Al-Qaeda terrorist group, or a civil war or an armed separatist group in the country. According to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about 100 Thai nationals in Yemen have already registered their names with the Thai Embassy in Muscat, as advised, urging those who have not yet done so to to send their names and addresses to the Thai Embassy through its email address, mct@omantel.net.om, immediately. The Thai citizens were, however, urged not to be panic but closely following official news updates released by the Thai Embassy in Muscat. (TNA)