Dozens of Chicagoans Trapped in in War-Torn Yemen

(CHICAGO, IL., 4/10/2015) - The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today said that dozens of area residents are trapped in war-torn Yemen. Escalating violence has trapped hundreds of U.S. citizens, including dozens of Chicagoans, in the quickly deteriorating situation in Yemen. After evacuating embassy staff from the country on February 11, 2015, the U.S. Department of State suspended all operations. The U.S. Department of State has since failed to facilitate travel and/or evacuation for U.S. Citizens who were not U.S. embassy staff. According to the State Department Yemen Crisis page, there are currently no U.S. government sponsored plans to evacuate U.S. citizens.

SEE: Map of Conflict

"While other countries like Russia, China, and India have evacuated their citizens, it is appalling that our own government has failed to protect and evacuate US citizens and subject them to dangerous and life-threatening conditions by abandoning them in Yemen" - Staff Attorney Rabya Khan, CAIR-Chicago

In an attempt to help Yemeni Americans currently stuck in Yemen, The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus (ALC) have launched a website titled StuckInYemen.com. So far over 400 people have registered through the website yet the State Department has not released a plan of evacuation.

Yesterday CAIR, ADC, and ALC held a news conference outside the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., to announce the filing of a lawsuit to facilitate action to evacuate American citizens trapped in Yemen.

SEE: Arab, Muslim and Asian Groups to File Lawsuit to Assist U.S. Citizens Stuck in Yemen

According to the Washington Post, India has lead the evacuation efforts, helping over 550 people from 32 countries escape including dozens of Americans.

SEE: India leads rescue of foreign nationals, including Americans, trapped in Yemen

For more information on StuckinYemen.com and the national advocacy effort please see the press release here: Arab, Muslim and Asian Groups Launch Effort to Assist U.S. Citizens Stuck in Yemen

To connect with Chicago area families affected by this issue please contact the CAIR-Chicago office.

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CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator, Renner Larson, rlarson@cair.com, 312.212.1520; CAIR-Chicago Staff Attorney, Rabya Khan, rabya.khan@cair.com, 312.212.1520