WASHINGTON—U.S.
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D- Dearborn) is urging the State Department to take
increased steps to protect American citizens stranded in Yemen. 

In a letter to
Secretary of State John Kerry, Dingell urged the State Department to prioritize
the evacuation of American citizens living in Yemen and to improve
communication with families about any future evacuation efforts. Dingell has
also been in constant communication with State Department officials.

“The
ongoing situation in Yemen is dire and further action must be taken by the U.S.
Department of State to ensure the safety of American citizens living in the
country,” Dingell wrote. “As you are aware, Michigan’s 12th Congressional
District has a significant Yemeni-American population and they are concerned
for the well-being of their loved ones, many of whom are trapped in the country
during ongoing hostilities. 

“We have
an obligation to make every possible effort to safely evacuate U.S. citizens
from conflict zones…It is critical that you work with our allies in the region
to explore alternative options for the safe evacuation of U.S. citizens in
Yemen.”

In
Dingell’s conversations with senior officials at the State Department, it
became clear that better communication was necessary to ensure the community is
aware of all resources available to them.

The
State Department has established a website where families can find important
information and updates. Families are also encouraged to visit the Facebook and
Twitter pages for the U.S. Embassy in
Yemen. Community groups are urged to share this information with all interested
parties.

In the letter Dingell added, “We are hearing daily from
Yemeni-Americans, most of them constituents. Some of them are stuck in Yemen
themselves and others have family living in Yemen with no ability to get help.
These U.S. citizens in Yemen have nowhere to turn and we have a responsibility
to protect them. It is heartbreaking to hear these stories of loved ones
stranded in a war zone. We have an obligation to make every possible effort to
safely evacuate U.S. citizens from conflict zones.”