Ministry has ‘flexible’ plans to safeguard Jordanians in Yemen

AMMAN — The Foreign Ministry has set up plans that will respond to any scenarios to ensure the safety of Jordanians residing in Yemen, a ministry official said Thursday.

“These plans will be applied according to unfolding events in Yemen,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Sabah Al Rafie told The Jordan Times over the phone, adding: “Jordanians’ safety is a priority.”

She also said that “no injuries or fatalities have been recorded among the Jordanian community” in the turbulent country.

The number of Jordanians in Yemen amounts to 1,000, including some 350 students at Yemeni universities, Rafie said in recent remarks to The Jordan Times.

Local news websites have reported that a Russian airliner was supposed to carry Jordanians back to Amman. Rafie neither confirmed nor denied the report. 

“Almost a week ago, we called on Jordanians in Yemen, through media outlets, to provide us with their contact details and locations, so that the ministry can directly reach them,” the spokesperson said.

They can call the ministry on mobile number 00967733820073, and the ministry’s operations room at 0096265501444, or 0096265735166 in case of emergency. 

Under directives of Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Nasser Judeh, the operations centre at the ministry and embassy employees in Sanaa are in 24-hour direct contact with Jordanians in the Arabian Peninsula country, Rafie added.

In a recent statement, the ministry advised Jordanians not to travel to Yemen due to the current situation, urging Jordanian citizens in Yemen to exercise caution, take prudent security measures and stay away from danger zones.