Govt ready to evacuate Nepalis in Iraq, if needed

Amid worsening security situation in the aftermath of the Islamic militant attacks in various parts of Iraq, Nepal has asked the kin of the Iraq-based Nepali nationals to inform the government to facilitate their evacuation in case of emergency. The government has banned Iraq for foreign employment but Nepalis have been flying to the country illegally via India.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Thursday asked the kin of the Nepalis trapped in Iraq to report to the MoFA through e-mail ([email protected]) or a toll free number that the ministry is setting up shortly. The request by MoFA comes at a time when the government struggles to determine the number of Nepalis there. "Since all those Nepali nationals currently in Iraq have reached there without acquiring labor permits, we do not know their numbers. So we request the kin of those currently living in Iraq to provide us their details through email or a toll free number," MoFA spokesperson Dipak Dhital said. 

Spokesperson Dhital said MoFA will be in a position to make appropriate contingency plan to evacuate Nepalis from Iraq in the event of critical security situation. "We have not yet received any information about abduction of any Nepali nationals in Iraq. Iraqi authorities have assured us about their safety," he further said.

Nepal government through its embassy in Pakistan, which is concurrently accreditated to Iraq, has lodged a formal request to Iraqi authorities to ensure safety of Nepalis living there. "We are also in close contact with some Nepalis living in Iraq and have asked them to suggest possible measures that the government can take to ensure their safety," Dhital said at a press conference organized at the MoFA on Thursday.

It is estimated that there are around 15,000 Nepalis working in Iraq. MoFA said it has already prepared necessary contingency plan to evacuate Nepali nationals should the situation demands. MoFA´s initiatives come amid unconfirmed reports that Nepalis are among the 60 foreign workers abducted by Islamic militants from near the Iraqi town of Kirkuk. According to unconfirmed reports Nepalis were working at a hospital construction site there. Quoting Dogan news agency in Iraq, the Associated Press had reported on Wednesday that militants in Iraq and the Levant seized the group.

MoFA, as per its plan to evacuate the Nepalis, has formed an inter-ministerial committee headed by the chief of Central Asia, West Asia and Africa Division at the ministry Prakash Kumar Subedi to coordinate among concerned government agencies and facilitate evacuation.

The inter-ministerial committee comprises representatives of labor, home and tourism ministries. The government is mulling seeking help from the embassies of South Asian countries in Bagdad, Iraq and also seek assistance from the International Organization for Migration if the security situation in Iraq worsens further.

Nepalis in Iraq have been advised not to travel outside their residence and take special precautions about their safety. MoFA has also advised Nepalis to return to return to Nepal if possible. Earlier on Monday, government asked Nepalis to avoid travel to Iraq.

Published on: 20 June 2014 | Republica