Over 350 vulnerable Nepalis, including victims of human trafficking, stranded and irregular migrant workers have been helped to return home from abroad over the past two years through a project implemented by the UN Migration Agency and funded by the Qatar Development Fund.

 

The project ‘Return Assistance to Stranded Nepali Migrants,’ which ends in January 2018, has provided voluntary return and reintegration assistance to destitute, undocumented Nepali migrants in situations of abuse and exploitation in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, UAE, Oman, Syria, Iraq and Malaysia.

 

According to a press release issued by International Organisation for Migration, the project ensured that almost 90 per cent of the returnees got direct assistance on arrival in Nepal in coordination with the local partner NGOs. Aid included reception, temporary shelter support, psychosocial counselling, medical support, and tracing/reunification with family members.

 

Over 200 returnees also received a USD 500-equivalent reintegration package. Most used the money for income generation and livelihood support, spending it on their farms, buying livestock, or setting up a small business, like a grocery store, tea shop or tailor. The payment was designed to help them sustainably reintegrate back into their local community. National stakeholders met in Kathmandu today at a consultation organised by IOM to discuss the outcomes of the project, challenges and the way forward on return reintegration assistance for vulnerable migrants. Over half of all Nepali households now have at least one migrant family member currently abroad or living in Nepal as a returnee, according to data from the Department of Foreign Employment.

 

Many Nepali migrants suffer abuse and over 6,800 complaints were registered between fiscal2014/15 and 2016/17 by labour migrants against institutions or individuals regarding fraud and malpractice during their employment process. Over 400 rescue requests were received in fiscal 2016/17 by Department of Consular Services.