The government has decided that a total of 10 flights can be sent to each foreign country in a day to recuse Nepali nationals stranded abroad.
According to the instruction issued by the government, everyone willing to enter Nepal in those flights must present their medical report showing negative test result for Covid-19 in order to be eligible for the rescue.
The government has also set 15 priority bases under which Nepali nationals stranded abroad will be rescued and brought home.
The priorities include those who have been granted amnesty in foreign countries, those kept in detention centers but have permission to return Nepal, those with expired visas, those in need to visit Nepal to attend family members’ funeral, those with expired work contracts, those rendered jobless, pregnant and postpartum women, children, elderly citizens and differently-abled people.
Similarly, those who have gone abroad for study or training through government agencies, students whose education is completed, students who are in need to return but have not completed their studies, those who had gone abroad to meet family members, those who had gone for business holiday, employees of INGOs along with those visiting foreign land on tourist or business visas have also been listed under the government’s priorities.
The data compiled by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security show that around 1,25,000 Nepalis need to be urgently rescued from foreign countries, except India.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s meeting of the Council of Ministers has listed 20 entry points for Nepalis wanting to enter into the country from India. The entry points include, Pashupatinagar in Illam, Kakarbhitta in Jhapa, Rani in Morang, Kunauli in Saptari, Thadiand Madarin Siraha, Bhittamode in Mahottari, Manglawa in Sarlahi, Gaur in Rautahat, Birgunj in Parsa, Maheshpur in Nawalparasi, Belahiya in Rupandehi, Taulihawa and Krishnanagarin Kaplibastu, Jamunaha in Banke, Sarajpur in Gulariya/Bardiya, Gaurifanta in Kailali, Gaddachauki in Kanchanpur, Jhulaghat in Baitadi, and Darchula in Darchula.
These entry points will be open for Nepalis who want to enter into the country from India. The government has estimated that around 5,00,000 Nepalis will enter Nepal from India.
The details of Nepalis willing to enter from India will be collected by local administrations and submitted to the respective provincial governments. Similarly, the details of those willing to come from other nations will be collected by concerned embassies and submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health and Population, Home Ministry, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ministry as well as Covid-19 Crisis management Center.
The collected details must include whether the rescued citizens will be living in self-paid quarantine at hotels specified by the government or at the quarantine facilities managed by the local level authorities.
Nepalis coming from countries other than India will be required to bear all costs involved in the rescue, including their air fareas well as travel to the holding center and to hotel quarantine. Similarly, those coming from India must pay for their travel to the government-specified holding center as well as to the quarantine facility.
All rescued must stay in institutional quarantine for 14 days upon their return and they’ll be allowed to go home following a Covid-19 test. They must also stay at home quarantine for seven days after they’re moved out from institutional quarantine.
