Kathmandu: In a virtual meeting between Nepali Ambassadors to countries with a large population of migrant workers and members of Industry, Commerce, Labour, and Consumer Interest Committee in the House of Representatives , the envoys urged the committee to request the government to allow additional flights into Nepal.
Thousands of Nepalis who lost their jobs owing to the Covid-19 pandemic are requesting to return home. Their problems are further exacerbated by approaching visa expiry dates.
Nepal’s ambassador to Malaysia Udaya Raj Pandey said although more than 10,000 Nepalis have returned from Malaysia, 8,000 Nepalis are stillwaiting to get back home.
Ambassador Pandey has reportedly requested for 16 flights to Kuala Lumpur every week.
Similarly, Ambassadors for Kuwait and Qatar shared similar concerns that the amount of Nepalis who have registered to return home is growing. Nepal’s Ambassador to Qatar, Narad Bharadwaj requested the government to allow four flights per day from Qatar to Nepal to repatriate stranded Nepalis.
As of 21st September, 2020, 71,735 Nepalis have returned home since Nepal’s government June10 decision to allow Nepalis stranded abroad back home. However, tens of thousands of migrant workers are still stranded, and are awaiting clearance to fly back home.
