KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has expressed concern over the condition of Nepalis living in the United States of America after the COVID-19 pandemic spreading there.
The President called the Nepali Embassy in the US to express her concern regarding the condition of Nepalis in America.
Nepal’s Ambassador to the USA, Dr Arjun Kumar Karki said the President called him to take information on the situation of Nepali communities in the USA in the context of the rapid spread of COVID-19 pandemic and it’s claiming many lives also.
Ambassador Karki, issuing an appeal on March 30, stated that President Bhandari rang up the Embassy to express her concern urging the Nepali community to stay aware and be safe.
The President has also extended condolences to the families of those who died due to COVID-19 infection and wished a speedy recovery to those affected by it, Ambassador Karki has said in the appeal. It is said there are nearly 500 thousand Nepalis living in the USA.
He has stated in the appeal that the US Government has been requested to provide necessary assistance to the Nepali citizens and students in the US whose visa term has expired due to the obstruction of travel owing to the existing situation as well as to extend cooperation in treating the Nepalis affected by coronavirus infection, as per the decision of the Government of Nepal.
The Embassy has also started keeping the required records on the situation of Nepalis and the support they needed by discussing the issues organizing a video conference which was participated by representatives of Non-resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) America as well as of 126 Nepalis ‘ associations in 50 states of the USA.
Ambassador Karki stated in the appeal that the Embassy has continued the essential service delivery and made arrangements for four telephone lines providing 24-hour service in case of any problem. Arrangements have also been made for a separate email related to COVID-19. It has also made arrangements for a separate email service to provide prompt service to students.
The Embassy has, likewise, urged all Nepalis in the USA to contact the Nepali Embassy in Washington DC and the Consulate General in New York in case of any problem.
A Nepali has died of COVID-19 infection while some are undergoing treatment at a hospital in the USA. New York City where there is a large presence of Nepalis has become an epicenter of COVID-19 in recent days.
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