Even as security situation inside Iraq continues to get worse by the day, around 10,000 Nepali migrant workers are still living at various parts of the troubled country, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

Joint Secretary Arjun Kanta Mainali, who was appointed as the government´s special representative to rescue Nepalis trapped in Iraq, said around 10,000 Nepali nationals are believed to have been working in various parts of Iraq. “We do not have the exact data as to how many Nepalis are living there. But based on the people I talked to and information I received from Nepalis living in Iraq, it is estimated that some 10,000 Nepalis are working there," said Mainali, who arrived home after over a month-long stay in Iraq. 

As Nepal has banned Iraq as labor destination since 2004, many Nepalis have reached this war-torn country for works illegally. Addressing a press briefing organized by the MoFA on Friday, Mainali said he could secure repatriation of a total 13 Nepalis nationals trapped in Iraq and over 100 Nepalis were provided with consular and passport services to facilitate their return home.

While 1,000 Nepalis are living inside green zone in Baghdad, a few hundred other Nepalis are found to be living in Basra city in the Southern Iraq. "There are 3,000 to 4,000 Nepalis inside the Kurdistan province of Iraq," he said while adding that a sizeable number of Nepali housemaids are also working there. 

Mainali added that there is no security threats to those living inside Greater Baghdad and the Kurdistan province, but all others working outside these two regions are under security threats should the internal conflict in Iraq gets further worse. 

Mainali, as the government´s special representative, had left Kathmandu for Iraq on July 1, but he could make it to Baghdad only on July 15. "Political transition and Ramadan festival caused delay to reach Iraq," Mainali said while adding that he had returned home after reaching to Arbil, the capital city of Kurdistan province, on August 7 and meeting Nepali workers there to learn about their condition. 

During his stay in Bagdad, Mainali held meeting with Iraqi foreign ministry officials including chief of protocol and chief of South Asia and Africa Division and director of Resident Affairs. Likewise, he held meeting with Chief of Foreign Relations of Kurdish government. 

"My visit has helped to enhance our understanding on Iraq and help understand the ground situation there. Since the visit has also helped developed basic contact with Iraqi government officials and Nepali community there, this has put us a position to do rescue works even while staying in Nepal," Mainali further said.

Efforts underway to rescue Nepalis trapped in Libya

While 54 Nepalis trapped in Libya are arriving in Kathmandu on Friday and Saturday, the MoFA said efforts are underway to help rescue 190 other Nepali nationals stranded there. 
"While many of them have come to our contact, others haven´t. We are coordinating with our embassy in Egypt to help rescue them," said Joint Secretary Prakash Subedi, who heads West Asia division at the MoFA.

Reports are that while nine Nepalis are living near Tripoli, the capital city of Libya, 10 more are living in Benghazi. With several other Nepalis are reportedly living in various parts of Libya including in Zawra, the MoFA has estimated that the number of Nepalis there could be around 190.

The MoFA has approached the International Organization for Migration (IoM) in Libya and Tunisia through the Embassy of Nepal in Egypt for help. The MoFA said it is also in touch with the Embassy of South Korea in Kathmandu to rescue Nepalis said to have been working with a South Korean Company in Libya.

Published on: 16 August 2014 | Republica