KATHMANDU: Rescue of Nepalis stranded in abroad with the announcement of lockdown to stop the infection of COVID-19 is underway.

The government’s repatriation campaign has intensified since June 5. In the last three weeks, 3,108 Nepalis have returned home under the joint initiative of the National Committee of the Non-Resident Nepali Association and the Diplomatic Mission of the Government of Nepal as of Sunday morning.

A total of 118 Nepalis have returned from Malaysia, 317 from the UAE and 898 from Kuwait. Thirteen people were rescued from Japan, 18 from Afghanistan, seven from Hong Kong, 26 from Myanmar and 11 from Australia, according to NRNA.

Similarly, 258 people have returned to Nepal from Bangladesh, 313 from Oman, 305 from the Maldives, 146 from Cambodia and Singapore and 248 from Thailand.

Likewise, 44 Nepalis have returned from Qatar, five from Sri Lanka, 153 from Saudi Arabia and 228 from South Korea so far.

Meanwhile, the process of bringing the bodies of Nepalis who died abroad this week to Nepal has started.

The bodies of 40 Nepalis who died due to various reasons abroad during the lockdown have been brought to Nepal. The bodies were brought to Nepal by Friday after a chartered flight was started for the repatriation of Nepalis in trouble abroad.

So far, 20 bodies have been brought from Qatar, 11 from Malaysia, six from Kuwait, one each from Oman, UAE and Saudi Arabia.

The families of 114 of the 318 victims have also given permission for burial in foreign countries. Apart from this, the management of 164 bodies is still pending.