Govt ready to rescue Nepali citizens from Wuhan

Kathmandu, Feb. 1

The government has said that it was fully prepared to rescue Nepali citizens, including students, in Wuhan, the epicenter of the new coronavirus-related pneumonia in China.

While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) had requested the Chinese government to support Nepal in bringing back its citizens in Wuhan, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai on Saturday said that two airplanes were kept ready for the rescue of Nepali students.

According to Minister Bhattarai, two planes each from Nepal Airlines and Himalaya Airlines were kept ready for the emergency rescue of Nepali students and the government could initiate the rescue operation at any time.

There are 190 students in Wuhan alone.

However, the MoFA said that the situation was not as grave as the international media had been reporting.

"We have urged the Chinese government to support in bringing back Nepalis in Wuhan and other cities affected by coronavirus. Nepali Embassy in Beijing is in close connection with the students and Chinese government, and making preparations for any emergency cooperation," said Sudan Gyawali, Press Expert to the Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali.

Minister Gyawali had urged the Chinese Foreign Ministry for the necessary support in rescuing Nepalis and said that the government could any time decide to bring them back.

The MoFA on Thursday discussed the issue with the Ministry of Health to create preparedness in the country as well.

But since only preparations on Nepali side would not be sufficient to rescue them as Chinese cooperation and support is needed to move from their residence to the nearest airport, both governments are in communication to make it happen when needed.

Nepali Embassy in Beijing is communicating with the students through a WeChat group.

While MoFA is saying that Nepalis in Wuhan are safe, India and Bangladesh have started operations to rescue their people. India had sent a plane on Friday to take back about 200 people in the first phase while Bangladesh has also rescued its students from the city that is closed since January 22. All the shops, restaurants, educational institutions and vehicular movements are closed.

China sensitive to Nepalis

China has reiterated its responsibility towards the health and lives of Nepali citizens, in Wuhan.

"It is understood that some Nepali citizens, including students, are still in Wuhan and their lives and medical care are guaranteed," said the Embassy of China in Kathmandu on Saturday in a statement. "Please rest assured that China will continue to take proactive measures to protect their legitimate rights and interests," it added.

It appreciated Nepal for taking measures and cooperation with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Nepal for preventing the epidemic.

The embassy has pledged the support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and the embassy in Kathmandu in need.

It also said that the Chinese government would perform its international obligations in a highly responsible manner, make every effort to ensure the health of foreign citizens in China, and address the legitimate concerns of all parties.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has set up emergency response mechanism to coordinate and handle foreign affairs related to epidemic prevention," it said.

The embassy also said that the number of Chinese tourists would be affected due to the spread of coronavirus but it would continue to encourage more Chinese citizens to visit Nepal on the occasion of Visit Nepal Year 2020.

According to a meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus, the outbreak has become a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. It has claimed the lives of 259 by January-end and there are 17,988 cases suspected of being infected.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 2 February 2020.