176 Nepalis stranded in transit in Brazil safe: Nepali Embassy

Kathmandu, Aug 27: A total of 176 Nepali nationals stranded in transit area of Brazil's Sao Paulo Airport are safe while preparations are being made to provide humanitarian assistance to them as per the need, according to the Nepali Embassy in Brazil.     

Issuing a press release today, the Embassy said its attention has been drawn to the new reports that around 700 foreigners, including Nepalis have been stranded in transit at the airport and clarified that it is in standby to provide humanitarian assistance to the Nepali nationals.     

There is a growing trend of people coming to South American countries, including Brazil from different places to enter the United States illegally.     

According to the Embassy, it has been frequently reported that youths from Nepal also come to this region falling prey to the organized human traffickers.     

Many of them have been found to have suffered unpredicted pain and had to spend huge sums of money. "Meanwhile, the Government of Brazil has introduced a rule to allow passport holders of some countries, including Nepal, to enter Brazil only on a visa", the release reads.     

"From now onwards Nepali visitors will be able to fly directly to the destination country through Brazil and if they do not do so, they will be sent back by the same plane but will not be recognized as refugees at the airport", it is stated in the press release.(RSS)