Workers released by militants to arrive home in few days

As security situation outside Iraq´s capital city Baghdad continues to worsen, Nepal has formally requested neighboring Turkey and Iran to provid“ "safe passa”e" to Nepali nationals fleeing Iraq for safety. 

Embassy of Nepal in Pakistan, which is concurrently accredited to Iraq, made the request to Iranian and Turkish authorities on Sunday keeping in view the precarious situation outside of Bagdad“ "We have made the request to authorities in neighboring Iran and Turkey to provide safe passage on humanitarian grounds should any Nepali nationals fleeing Iraq for safety happen to reach their borde”," ambassador Bharat Raj Paudyal told Republica over telephone from Islamabad. 

The government has not been able to determine the exact number of Nepalis currently residing in Iraq as they have reached there illegally via New Delhi, Dubai and Jordan. Nepal government has banned Nepali citizens from working in Iraq since 2004.

Paudyal said he has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu to make similar requests to Nepali missions accredited to Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia as they also share the border with Iraq. "We have been establishing contact with Nepalis living in various parts of Iraq through different channels. Only a few Nepalis have told us they are in a distressing situation," he said.

Existing immigration laws in Iraq makes it mandatory for all to make exit from the same port of entry in Iraq. Since it will be impracticable given the volatile security situation outside of Bagdad, Nepal has asked Iraqi authorities to waive the provision until the security situation improves.

Nepal´s embassy in Pakistan has been making necessary arrangements for safe rescue of three Nepali nationals, who are now taking shelter at their Iraqi colleague´s residence. "I have made the request to International Committee of the Red Cross, International Organization for Migration and Iraqi foreign ministry officials for their rescue as early as possible. They have positively responded to our request," Paudyal further said. The three were working at the residence of a senior political dignitary of provincial government in Tikrit. They decided to flee for safety as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, seized the town.

Likewise, four Nepalis released earlier by Islamist militants are currently waiting to be repatriated back home. Though a construction company, with which they had been working, has been trying to send them back home, unavailability of air ticket and exit permit has made this difficult. The company has kept them in a hotel after militants released them after four days of captivity on Friday. 

The Nepali embassy in Pakistan said they are likely to arrive home within a matter of days. The company plans to send all workers from India, Bangladesh and Nepal together to their homes.

Missing passport not a problem

Paudyal said there won´t be any problem in rescuing those who have lost their passports. "We have even issued travel documents to those who have lost their passport. Passport won´t be a problem as ICRC is also authorized to issue travel documents in case of need," he said.

Many of those Nepali nationals fleeing the restive part of Iraq have reportedly lost their passports. "There are only a few persons who have said they are in distress. Passport won´t be any problem in rescuing them since they could be easily provided with travel documents," he further said.

NAFEA estimates 25,000 Nepalis in Iraq

The Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) has estimated that some 25,000 Nepalis could have been currently working in Iraq. NAFEA is an umbrella organization of manpower agencies in Nepal. 

General Secretary of NAFEA Kamal Tamang said the number of Nepalis has reached such a high as Nepali citizens continue to travel to the war-ravaged country via Dubai and India for work despite the government ban. Nepali workers continue to travel to Iraq via Dubai, India and Jordan even as the government put a ban on travelling to Iraq in 2004," he said.“

"It is very difficult to find out the exact number of Nepali migrants in Iraq as most of them have reached there illegally and are undocument”d," said Minister of State for Labor and Employment Tek Bahadur Gurung.

Published on: 23 June 2014 | Republica