504 Nepalis came back from Afghanistan

Kathmandu, Aug. 21

Nepali migrants in Afghanistan continue to return home following the takeover of the country by the Taliban rebels.

Thirty-five Nepali nationals returned to Kathmandu on Saturday – 26 came back via Turkish Air and 9 via Jazeera Airways, informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

With this, 504 Nepalis have returned from the war-torn member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Returned people are tested for COVID-19 and managed at the holding centre arranged by the COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre (CCMC) at Samakhushi of Kathmandu Metropolis.

Likewise, 317 Nepalis have updated their whereabouts on the web portal of the Department of Consular Services (DoCS).

The Task Force formed to facilitate the rescue of Nepali nationals from Afghanistan said that it is coordinating and collaborating with the friendly nations which are conducting rescue flights to and from Kabul to bring back Nepali migrants.

Its sixth meeting on Saturday discussed the latest updates in Afghanistan, said the MoFA.

“However, people listed for the rescue have their name and passport number duplicated while many people have updated information about an individual,” read the statement.

Those who are not listed in the rescue list are being contacted by the MoFA, DoCS and Nepali Embassy in New Delhi, India. According to the MoFA, Suresh Chandra Sharma is coordinating and facilitating in the rescue of Nepalis in Afghanistan as a focal person in Kabul.

People who are in Afghanistan and haven’t registered their names at the portal of DoCS can register themselves or ask their families to make an entry of their whereabouts.

Updates can be fed in the online registration portal https://nepalconsular.gov.np/ 

People can contact DoCS at +977-9749326458, MoFA at +9779749326459 and Embassy of Nepal in India at +918929601925 on cell phone, Viber and WhatsApp.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has urged the returnee migrants to inform the government through the web portal when they safely reach their home or other destination.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 August 2021.