With fragile security situation in Iraq following infighting in the oil rich country, scores of Nepali citizens working there are wishing to return home. 

The government has already confirmed that Nepalis working in Iraq have been caught in the sectarian violence. The Nepali workers facing a tough time in Iraq shared their wish to come back home with Nepal’s Ambassador to Pakistan Bharat Poudyal, who is also accredited to Iraq, during his telephone conversation with them from Islamabad. 

Talking to THT, Ambassador Poudyal said dozens of Nepalis have shared with him their plans of returning home as early as possible. Poudyal has been constantly in touch with Nepali workers and their networks in Iraq to assess the unfolding situation in the war-torn country. 

According to him, around four Nepali workers, who had lost their passports earlier, have requested him to make available travel documents to facilitate their early and smooth return to Nepal. He said the Nepali embassy in Islamabad was doing the needful to issue travel documents to them at the earliest. 

On Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had urged all Nepalis currently living in Iraq to take necessary steps to return home, if possible, before the security situation goes out of hands.

Yesterday, at least four Nepali construction workers were released by Islamist militants in northern Iraq. They were held by Sunni Islamist militants along with foreign workers for several days. Separately, another Nepali was abducted in the northern city of Kirkur. He had later managed to escape.

Published on: 22 June 2014 | Kantipur