KATHMANDU, Oct 10: Two days after the massive strike by Hamas militants in Israel, the Government of Nepal has finally decided to repatriate Nepali citizens trapped in the war-torn country by chartering flights.

After facing widespread criticism for the delay in rescuing Nepalis trapped in Israel, the government has finally taken an initiative in this regard. A number of Nepalis currently in Israel have been making frantic calls and requesting high-ranking government officials of Nepal to take prompt action before it is too late.

A Cabinet meeting held on Monday decided to lease the airplanes of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) and Himalayan Airlines for the purpose of bringing back Nepali citizens who have been stranded in Israel. Likewise, the government has also permitted Nepal’s Embassy in Israel to recruit a person, who is well acquainted with the local Hebrew language, for the next three months in order to facilitate the evacuation process of Nepalis who went to Israel for different purposes.

The government has also decided to set up a temporary transit home via Nepali Embassy in Israel. The provision is expected to provide temporary shelter to the Nepalis before they get airlifted from the risky zone of Israel and are returned back to their home country.

In order to take necessary measures to rescue Nepalis, the government has decided to take forward rigorous measures with support of the Government of Israel and its neighboring countries. The government has asked the Nepalis concerned to submit their details to the Embassy of Nepal in Israel, while the embassy has been asked to send those details immediately to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Likewise, it has been decided to provide family members of those killed in the recent attack by Hamas Group of Palestine with Rs 1 million each. According to the government records, a total of 10 Nepalis were killed in the recent strike.

Hamas initiated a major offensive against Israel on Saturday, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, which began on October 6th. Israeli officials have reported a grim toll, with the number of casualties exceeding 600 and hundreds more wounded.

As per the government data, 4,500 Nepalis have been working as caregivers in Israel. Likewise, 265 Nepali students have been studying under the ‘Learn and Earn’ program of the Israeli government. Among them, 119 are students of Agriculture and Forestry University, 97 belong to Tribhuvan University and 49 are from Sudurpashchim University.     

 
• Government_of_Nepal
 
• rescue
 
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• Israel