‘I am trapped here’: Gulf-based Nepali workers agonise as devastating floods ravage home

I am trapped here: Gulf-based Nepali workers agonise as devastating floods ravage home

Nepali workers in the Gulf are desperate to return home to aid their loved ones, but fear their employers will deny them leave or terminate their employment. As Nepal grapples with the aftermath of catastrophic August flash floods, which claimed over 1,400 lives and left thousands missing, the burden of rebuilding will likely be placed on these hardworking migrants.

With remittances accounting for nearly a third of Nepal's GDP, the Gulf, particularly Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, plays a crucial role in sustaining the Nepali economy. These workers, who contribute significantly to their home country's prosperity, now find themselves trapped thousands of miles away from the disaster that has decimated their communities.

Hari Krishna, a 32-year-old construction worker in Dubai, exemplifies the plight of countless Nepali migrants. He works tirelessly to build luxury residential complexes in the scorching afternoon sun, but his thoughts are consumed by the devastation in his hometown of Nuwakot. The floods wiped out everything his family owned, leaving them with nothing but the remnants of their past.

Hoping to join them for the upcoming Dashain festival, Krishna's grandfather, 67, perished in the disaster. Despite requesting emergency leave from his supervisor, Krishna faces financial and logistical obstacles that prevent him from following his family's tragic fate. The crisis gripping Nepal highlights the precarious nature of the lives of migrant workers, who are often vulnerable to exploitation and lack access to essential healthcare.

International organizations like the International Labour Organisation emphasize the need for urgent assistance and support for these workers as they grapple with the aftermath of the floods.