Safety Amid Conflict

The flames of the ongoing war in the Middle East continue to spread, causing serious disruptions in global energy supplies and the overall economy. The unprovoked war started on February 22 when Israel and the United States of America launched their coordinated attacks on Iran which they called an effort to destroy the latter’s nuclear programme and change the regime. The preemptive strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, scores of military officers and at least 165 schoolgirls, triggering worldwide condemnations. Iran responded with retaliatory missile attacks on Israel and on US military bases across Gulf countries. 

Wars in the 21st century are always deadly, as they are backed by precise technology and equipment. Sophisticated drones, ballistic and supersonic missiles, bombers and nuclear-powered aircraft carriers are now employed by warring parties to achieve a quick victory. However, there is no sign that these brutal conflicts will end anytime soon, generating widespread fear among the populace in West Asia and beyond. Gulf nations such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar host some of the world’s busiest business hubs. Moreover, they serve as lucrative labour markets, employing millions of people from several countries, including Nepal. The safety and security of more than 1.72 million Nepali migrant workers working in 13 countries across the region remain a pressing concern. 

Nepalis working in Iran, Israel, Egypt, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Lebanon, Iraq, and Cyprus are feeling the impact of ongoing military confrontations that are expected to last for weeks. One Nepali was killed in the UAE and two others were injured in a separate incident. The UAE has the largest number of Nepali migrant workers (478,144), followed by Saudi Arabia (383,865), Qatar (357,000), Kuwait (175,000) and Iraq (30,000). Only about six Nepalis live in Iran and around about 500 reside in Egypt. Many people have been stranded in airports and outside terminals. The situation has worsened as airspace has been closed on security grounds, except for partial operations from Dubai and Doha. 

In Nepal, fewer than half a dozen institutions are working for the migrant workers, but they lack mechanisms to rescue and repatriate Nepalis from West Asia. Similarly, the country has limited air capacity to bring them back home. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already stated that the government does not conduct rescue operations immediately. It is currently collecting details of Nepalis and their applications for any support through an online system. Diplomatic missions and consular offices are issuing various notices, requests and travel advisories for Nepalis living in Gulf and elsewhere. The government is making the utmost effort within its capacity to ensure the safety of migrant workers.  It has also formed an Emergency Response Team (ERT) and the Emergency Control Room (ECR) to deal with the ongoing situation. 

On Saturday, Prime Minister Sushila Karki held a telephone conversation with the UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and expressed gratitude to the UAE government for taking equal care of all citizens, including Nepalis. Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Karki also spoke with her Qatari counterpart to discuss the safety and welfare of Nepali citizens residing there. Bearing in mind the fragile security, Nepali migrant workers are advised to remain alert and take the necessary precautions as instructed by the governments of the respective countries. They should not travel without prior approval from the concerned authorities and must inform Nepali missions about any difficulty. Regular communications with families in Nepal help them overcome anxiety and remain emotionally strong.