The Embassy of Nepal in Beijing has said that plans are afoot to evacuate all the Nepalis in Hubei Province of China and that the government of Nepal is making an all-out effort for the same.

“Plans for a special chartered flight are being worked out and details will be shared as soon as they are available,” the embassy said in a notice issued on Saturday.

The coronavirus outbreak from Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, so far has claimed 259 lives and sickened 11,791. The province has been on lockdown and distressed and panicked Nepalis living there have been requesting the Nepal government to make arrangments to bring them home.

The World Health Organisation late on Friday declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

Nepal so far has reported one confirmed case in a Nepali student who had returned from Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, earlier this month.

“In the context of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China, the government of Nepal has decided to evacuate Nepali nationals currently residing in the Hubei Province of the People’s Republic of China,” reads the notice. “All Nepali nationals currently residing in Hubei Province are requested to fill the form available on the embassy website and send it to [email protected].”

The embassy has said only those who intend to return to Nepal on the chartered flight should fill the form.

“Please be advised that if you fail to fulfil this requirement, except as a result of pre-embarkment health check-up at the airport, the applicant will face consequences as per law,” reads the notice. “The particulars of the chartered flight will be arranged on the basis of submissions made by Nepali nationals willing to go back to Nepal.”

The embassy's notice comes days after the Nepal government said it had no plans to evacuate Nepalis from China.

In its Saturday notice, the embassy has asked all those Nepalis who want to return home to submit the form no later than 9am Sunday, February 2.

“Late submissions will not be entertained. Every passport holder should fill a separate form. The forms for minors should be filled by one of the parents and sent together in one package,” reads the notice.

Earlier on Saturday, the Embassy of China in Kathmandu said that lives and medical care of Nepali citizens, including students, who are in Wuhan are guaranteed. “Please rest assured that China will continue to take proactive measures to protect their legitimate rights and interests,” reads the Chinese embassy statement. “If any need, the Nepali side can communicate with the Chinese Embassy in Nepal or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in a timely manner.”

Published on: 1 February 2020 | The Kathmandu Post