Kathmandu, Oct. 13
More than 200 Nepalis studying or working in Israel, other
than those rescued and brought to Kathmandu on Friday, have expressed their
desire to come back to Nepal.
"We continue to receive new registrations on our online
portals. More than 200 new requests to return to Nepal have been made at the
portal," the Embassy of Nepal in Tel Aviv of Israel informed in a
statement issued on Friday afternoon, "Meanwhile, the process to
repatriate them to Nepal has been initiated."
Likewise, of the four Nepalis who were injured in the attack
by Palestine rebel group HAMAS on Saturday, October 7, one has been brought to
Nepal after he was discharged from the hospital while the other one is in the process
of being discharged. The remaining two are still under treatment.
The government has brought 253 Nepali students who had
reached Israel under 'learn and earn' programme through the
government-to-government agreement between the two countries. They were the
students of various universities in Nepal.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, NP Saud, led the rescue
mission that used a wide-body aircraft of the Nepal Airlines Corporation that
flew to Tel Aviv via Dubai and returned to Kathmandu on Friday morning. Joint
Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Ram Sharan Aran, had
accompanied the Foreign Minister.
Ambassador of Nepal to Israel, Kanta Rijal, and the Chief of
Protocol and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel had
received the Nepali delegation at the airport in Tel Aviv.
FM Saud and his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen held a brief
talk on the ongoing situation in the Middle East and the process to repatriate
Nepali nationals and the dead bodies of 10 Nepalis who were killed in the
attack on Saturday.
According to the MoFA of Nepal, Israel has said that the
mortal remains of the deceased ones have been kept safely at the facilities in
Israel and would be repatriated to Nepal after the forensic and other processes
were completed. It might take a few more days.
Meanwhile, the embassy informed that the search works are
ongoing to find out the whereabouts of Bipin Joshi, a Nepali citizen who has
been missing since the first day of the attack a week ago.
"We have requested the authorities of the
high-government offices in Israel to expedite the search operation to find the
missing Nepali student. We also have expedited the search operation by
utilising all alternatives including the local police, hospital and other
stakeholders," said the embassy.
Likewise, the embassy had urged all Nepalis in Israel to
remain in constant contact with the embassy and follow the rules issued by the
local security agencies in Israel. The Embassy is also in contact and
coordination with the Israeli authorities for the safety, security and rescue
of the Nepalis as well as medical treatment of the injured.
Stating that the government would support the rescue and
repatriation of Nepali citizens in Israel, the MoFA said that it would bear the
cost of the return if any of them come here via commercial flights which are
being conducted occasionally.
It said that the embassy is in close communication with the
Nepalis living in the areas under attack. Nepalis in Israel can contact embassy
at +972(0)35168085, Ambassador Kanta Rizal at +972545864423, and First
Secretary Arjun Ghimire at +972528289300 or email at nepal.embassy@012.net.il.
Likewise, the government has designated Spokesperson of the
MoFA, Sewa Lamsal (9851310229), Joint-Secretary, Sharad Raj Aran (9844495858),
Under-Secretary Drupada Sapkota (9841403362) and Officer Krishna Silwal
(9849179520) as the contact persons to provide necessary information,
cooperation and support in the process.
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