KATHMANDU, March 19: Amid fears that unrest in Bahrain could turn more violent, the government has directed the Ministry of Labor and Transport (MoLT) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to prepare updated details of Nepali migrant workers living in the island nation.
A meeting of MoLT and MoFA officials held at Singha Durbar in the presence of Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal on Friday decided to prepare a comprehensive detail of each Nepali worker in Bahrain so that the government can promptly rescue them in the event of emergency.
The government´s move comes after various western countries, including Britain, started to evacuate their citizens. Amid continued government crackdown in this Sunni-ruled island nation, Western governments have also advised their nationals against travel to Bahrain until further notice.
MoFA and MoLT officials said the meeting assessed Bahrain unrest and the condition of Nepalis working there. “Though the situation is not favorable for evacuation of Nepalis immediately, the meeting has decided to prepare individual details of Nepali workers,” said an official, asking to be unnamed.
Though the official data shows that only about 15,000 Nepalis work in Bahrain, it is believed that over 30,000 Nepalis are currently working there.
Among other things, the meeting also decided to identify the places under high risk and contact persons in the area of concentration of Nepalis to ensure swift evacuation. “We have reached an understanding to keep ourselves ready for evacuation of Nepalis in the event of emergency,” the official added.
Nepali Embassy in Saudi Arabia that also looks after Bahrain will be directed to prepare updated details of Nepalis in Bahrain.
The meeting attended by MoFA Secretary Dr Madan Kumar Bhattarai and MoLT Secretary Dinesh Hari Adhikari also decided to take steps in tandem with other south Asian countries, including Bangladesh and India. “We have decided to wait and see as to what to do with Nepali workers in Bahrain,” said the prime minister´s advisor Milan Tuladhar.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=29365
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