As all out efforts are on to rescue scores of stranded Nepalis in war-hit Iraq, the government is now struggling to convince them that working there is not safe. “We are facing huge challenges in Iraq. First, all Nepalis living in Iraq were taken there illegally. We rescue them because they are our citizens,” said an officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). “Unfortunately, some don’t want to return home.

Even though, Iraqi government forces have wrested control of some rebel strongholds, the security situation is unpredictable. MoFA last week appointed Joint Secretary Arjun Kant Mainali as special representative for the rescue of Nepalis in Iraq. He is now in Kuwait awaiting a green signal from Iraqi officials so that he can enter the country and take stock of the condition of Nepalis there.

More than 30,000 Nepali are estimated to be working in different parts of Iraq, and all are there illegally as Nepal has banned Iraq for foreign employment. In the first place, they went there for better pay and perks. They are now reluctant to return because of the huge sum they owe to their lenders.

“I came here in September. I have to pay my lender Rs 150,000, which I had taken to arrive here,” Bikram Giri of Syangja told THT from Baghdad over phone. “I cannot afford to return home immediately. I at least need to earn the money to return to my lender. Besides, we are relatively safe here. The government and media are simply generating fear.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey expressed worry. “The situation is horrifying, but many Nepalis, including those who were caught in the fighting and relocated do not want to come back home.”

Published on: 6 July 2014 | The Himalayan Times