KATHMANDU: The United Nations (UN) has accepted Non-Resident Nepali Association’s (NRNA) proposal to assist in the rescue of Nepalis stranded abroad due to the lockdown.
The NRNA had on Wednesday organized a video conference with the International Organization of Migration (IOM) regarding the issue.
NRNA Chairman Kumar Pant had urged IOM Nepal Mission chair Laurena Landa to support them in rescuing and repatriating Nepali nationals, according to NRNA Vice-chair Dr Badri KC.
Landa, the head of the Nepal Mission under the United Nations, said IOM was willing to assist in the rescue of Nepalis living abroad.
The IOM has also assured to assist Nepalis returning from abroad to transport them from the airport to the holding center.
Nepalis’ death minimizes
The increasing trend of Nepalis falling victim to coronavirus outside the country has come to a halt. No deaths were reported last week, according to Non-resident Nepalis Association.
Likewise, there has been significant reduction in the infection rate, with around 9,000 Nepalis recovering from the virus.
As of Saturday, some 17,792 Nepalis were infected with coronavirus, with 127 deaths so far in different countries, according to Coordinator of NRNA health committee Dr Sanjiv Sapkota.
Deaths of Nepalis have been reported in the UK, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwati, Qatar, Ireland, Japan, Turkey, the Netherlands, the USA and Sweden.
Expanding the scope of relief support to the Nepalis affected by the pandemic, the NRNA this week provided support to pregnant women and children in Kuwait and the UAE, according to treasurer Mahesh Shrestha.
So far, the NRNA has provided Rs. 6.6 million in support to the Nepalis affected by COVID-19 in different parts of the globe.
It has helped rescue more than 500 Nepali stranded in different countries.
With the support of the government of Kuwait, a total of 299 Nepalis returned home on Thursday, according to NRNA Chair Kumar Pant.
Another, 2,991 Nepalis will be repatriated to their home country from Kuwait.
Comment