**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *181 regarding the evacuation of Indian nationals from the Middle East, answered on December 12, 2025. It provides details on the number of Indians evacuated in the last three years, including those from Uttar Pradesh, and the government's approach to these operations. It also indicates that there is currently no imminent threat requiring evacuation.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Evacuation Statistics:**
* Government of India evacuated 5945 Indian nationals from Israel, Iran, Syria, and Iraq in the last three years.
* 1474 of those evacuated were from Uttar Pradesh.
* **Evacuation Operations:**
* Operation Ajay in Israel (2023).
* Operation Sindhu in Iran and Israel (2025).
* **Humanitarian Aid:**
* Airlift of mortal remains of 45 deceased Indian nationals (including 3 from Uttar Pradesh) who died in a tragic fire in Kuwait in 2024.
* **Government's Approach:**
* The government closely monitors situations worldwide, including the Middle East.
* Advisories are issued to caution Indian nationals to avoid unnecessary travel and follow safety guidelines.
* Indian nationals are advised to remain in touch with Indian Missions via published helpline numbers and communication mechanisms.
* The government launches evacuation operations and provides logistical support, including shelter, meals, and transportation on gratis basis.
* Evacuation operations prioritize the safety, security, and well-being of Indian nationals.
* **Current Assessment:**
* There is no information on any imminent threat requiring evacuation from the Middle Eastern region.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Nationals in the Middle East**
* **Impact:** They are provided with evacuation assistance during crises and receive safety advisories from the Government of India.
* **Action Required:** Follow government advisories, safety guidelines issued by local authorities, and remain in touch with Indian Missions.
**Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs)**
* **Impact:** Bears the responsibility for monitoring situations, issuing advisories, organizing and executing evacuation operations, and providing logistical support.
* **Action Required:** Continue to monitor situations, issue timely advisories, and be prepared to launch evacuation operations as needed.
**Citizens of Uttar Pradesh**
* **Impact:** Receive evacuation assistance and humanitarian aid in times of crisis, specifically including citizens affected by events such as the Kuwait fire.
* **Action Required:** Follow instructions from authorities during evacuation processes.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of External Affairs: The primary Indian ministry responsible for handling the evacuation of Indian nationals from abroad.
Lok Sabha: The House of the People, where questions related to the evacuation were raised and answered.
Uttar Pradesh: Indian state, many of whose residents were evacuated.
Operation Ajay: Evacuation operation in Israel in 2023.
Operation Sindhu: Evacuation operation in Iran and Israel in 2025.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
STARRED Q. NO. *181
ANSWERED ON 12.12.2025
EVACUATION FROM MIDDLE EAST
*181. SHRI RAJEEV RAI
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) the number of Indians evacuated from Middle East during the last
three years;
(b) whether a large number of persons belonging to Uttar Pradesh have
been waiting for their evacuation since 2014, if so, the details thereof;
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to evacuate them from
the region; and
(d) the time by which all these people are likely to be evacuated safely
from there?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR)
(a to d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
*****
1STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) IN
RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*181 FOR REPLY
ON 12.12.2025 REGARDING EVACUATION FROM MIDDLE EAST
(a) to (d): Keeping in view the safety and security of Indian nationals,
Government of India evacuated 5945 Indian nationals from Israel, Iran,
Syria and Iraq in the Middle-East during the last three years, including
under Operation Ajay in Israel in 2023 and Operation Sindhu in Iran and
Israel in 2025. A total of 1474 evacuated Indian nationals belonged to
Uttar Pradesh. Government also undertook a special humanitarian
airlift of mortal remains of 45 deceased Indian nationals, who lost
their lives in a tragic fire incident in Kuwait in 2024, which included 3
citizens of Uttar Pradesh. Operation/ evacuation details are attached
at Annexure-I.
The Government closely monitors any developing adverse situations
worldwide including the Middle Eastern region. Based on prevailing
circumstances, Government issues advisories to caution Indian
nationals to avoid unnecessary travel, follow safety guidelines issued
by the local authorities and remain in touch with the Indian Missions
on published helpline numbers and other communication mechanisms.
2Wherever necessary, the Government launches evacuation operations
with a whole-of-government approach to safely evacuate stranded
Indian nationals. Government provides logistical support including safe
shelter, meals, local and cross-border movement and transportation by
arranging special vehicles and evacuation flights on gratis basis.
Government’s evacuation operations prioritize the safety, security, and
well-being of all Indian nationals irrespective of their states. Presently,
there is no information on any imminent threat to the safety and
security of Indian nationals or any situation requiring evacuation of
Indian nationals from the Middle Eastern region.
*****
3Annexure-I
Details of Evacuations/Operations during last three years
Indian
Country & nationals
Year Total number of people
Name of the belonged to
evacuated
Operation Uttar
Pradesh
Israel 1,343
(including 14 OCI card
2023 145
Operation holders and 20 foreign
Ajay nationals)
Kuwait
(Humanitarian
2024 airlift of 45 3
mortal
remains)
Iran
2025 Operation 3597 1198
Sindhu
Israel
2025 Operation 818 92
Sindhu
2022 Iraq
to 135 32
2025
2024 Syria
86
& 7
2025
*****
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