The war in Yemen

Hundreds of tourists stuck on paradise island after escalation

Over 400 tourists are said to be stuck on the Yemeni holiday island of Socotra, AFP reports. Recent Saudi attacks on separatist groups on the Yemeni mainland disrupted air traffic to and from Socotra last week, reports ABC News.

– It's a pretty tense situation here. No one knows who will be allowed to board the first flights from here, says a tourist who wishes to remain anonymous.

The island has previously been spared from the country's long-running civil conflict, but the recent escalation has meant that tourists have sought help from embassies. Stranded tourists tell CNN that they have received little help because few Western countries have diplomatic representations in the country.

Citizens from, among others, Poland, the United States and Australia are said to be on the island. Omni has contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ask if any Swedes are stranded.

Swedish stuck in Yemen – has not been allowed to leave the holiday island

A Swede is stuck in Yemen due to the escalated conflict in the area. The person is said to have gone to the holiday island of Socotra, where hundreds of tourists are stranded after the fighting on the mainland stopped all air traffic.

“The embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which handles Swedish relations, is aware of a Swedish citizen who is on Socotra,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs writes to Omni.

According to AFP, tourists will be allowed to start leaving the island on Wednesday, but stranded travelers who ABC News spoke to say that there are big question marks.

– It is a pretty tense situation here. No one knows who will be allowed to go on the first flights from here, says a tourist who wishes to remain anonymous.