KATHMANDU: With the government’s decision to bring all Nepalis living outside the country and willing to return home through the chartered flights, thousands of them are returning home soon.

Together with these returnees, there will be some dead bodies returning home for the last rites.

More than 1 million migrant workers from Nepal stranded in the Middle East have applied in their respective missions for the facilitation for their return.

Starting from Friday, most of them will arrive in Nepal in a week. After the Middle East, those willing to return from Europe, America, Australia, Canada, Korea, Japan and other countries will be flown back to Nepal.

According to the Tribhuvan International Airport sources, the diplomatic missions in the Middle East have received more than 1 million applications, out of which are 141 dead bodies.

The dead bodies waiting for the last rites for weeks will be brought here through the first flight.

The embassies and diplomatic missions in the Middle East have asked the Nepalis who meet the criteria to apply again for their return journey to start from Friday.

Almost all companies of the Gulf countries are shut down due to the lockdown enforced to curb coronavirus pandemic. Most of the workers there are in unpaid leave now.

Although the Nepalis in residential work are still allowed the lodging and food facilities, the ones living in rents are starving and need instant rescue from there.

As per the new arrangement, once in Nepal, these returnees from abroad will be taken to the holding areas set up in their respective provinces.

The government has decided to assign Nepal Army the task of arranging the holding area set up in the airport.

However, NA has sought the coordination of the province authority to facilitate such places.