Kathmandu, 20 June: Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has stated that, in view of the evolving situation in Israel and Iran, the Government of Nepal is prepared to take all possible measures to ensure the safety and rescue of Nepali citizens in those countries, and to repatriate those who wish to return home.
She shared this information during a joint meeting held today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with representatives from the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The discussion focused on the current war situation in Israel and Iran and Nepal’s preparedness in response.
Minister Dr. Rana stated that under the coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nepali Embassy in Israel is actively working, and registration has been opened for Nepalis who wish to return home. She added that the government is already making preparations to arrange for their repatriation if they choose to come back.
She said, “For Nepalis who have gone to Israel under the G2G (Government-to-Government) process, it is also Israel’s responsibility to facilitate their safe return or relocation to a safer place if they wish. We have already requested the Israeli government to assist them in moving to other countries through border areas. The Government of Nepal is in a state of readiness to rescue and repatriate any Nepali citizens who wish to return.”
In the same meeting, Labor Minister Sharad Singh Bhandari stated that his ministry is also in continuous contact with Nepalis residing there and emphasized that the Government of Nepal must be prepared to carry out rescue operations if they wish to return home. He added that labor approvals for those preparing to go to Israel have currently been withheld to prevent their travel.
On June 13, the very day the war between Israel and Iran began, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement urging both parties to exercise maximum restraint and resolve the conflict through dialogue. The ministry also requested Nepalis in those countries to stay in contact with the respective Nepali embassies.
On June 15, a travel advisory was issued along with contact details, urging Nepalis to exercise maximum caution from a security perspective. Since air routes to those countries are currently closed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs instructed all Nepali missions in the Gulf region last Wednesday to facilitate online visas and assist Nepalis who wish to travel to safe locations or neighboring border countries.
Additionally, the ministry has launched an online portal to collect information about Nepalis, and so far, more than 600 individuals have registered their details. This process is ongoing.
Last Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a second travel advisory, again urging Nepali citizens currently in Israel and Iran to remain highly cautious for their safety and requested that no one from Nepal travel to Israel or other Middle Eastern countries at this time.
This week, Foreign Minister Dr. Rana met with Smuelik Ari Bass, the Israeli Ambassador to Nepal, and requested the Israeli government to make proper arrangements for the safety of Nepali citizens.
Similarly, the Nepali Embassy in Israel and the Nepali Embassy in Qatar, which covers Iran, have been instructed to establish close contact with relevant government officials, organizations working in the region, and the Nepali community, and to provide the Ministry with real-time reporting on the situation.
Currently, there are between 5,500 to 7,000 Nepalis in Israel, most of whom reside in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa. In Iran, there are 18 Nepalis.
