The government has allocated Rs 1 million to the Nepal embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for rescue and repatriation of Nepalese migrant workers trafficked or stranded in the Gulf states.

 

The Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare (MoWCSW) has released the fund via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) for the current fiscal year. This is the first time that the government has allocated a fund meant to repatriate trafficked Nepali migrant workers from destination countries in the Gulf. Until now, the MoWCSW has been releasing repatriation funds to Nepali embassy in Delhi, and the consulates in Calcutta and Bangkok for the same purpose.

 

Under Secretary at the MoWCSW Sunita Nepal said, "We have already released the fund to the Nepal embassy in the UAE to financially assist trafficked Nepalese workers for their return home."

 

She informed that some trafficked Nepalese citizens have been staying in the shelter house of Nepali embassy in UAE. "Our embassy in the UAE had sought funds to help them, therefore, we decided to allocate budget from this year," said Nepal.

 

According to the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the National Committee for Controlling Human Trafficking at the MoWCSW, the fund can also be used for treating trafficking survivors, pay litigation charges and issuing food allowance, among others.

 

The MoWCSW has been running eight shelter houses in Rupandehi, Chitwan, Sindhupalchowk, Banke, Kailali, Jhapa, Parsa and Kathmandu.

 

A total of 903 rescued Nepalis, mainly women, have found refuge in the MoWCSW run shelter homes.