KATHMANDU, Feb 25: A total of 1,641 Nepali migrant workers died in Qatar in the past one decade since Qatar speeded up the construction work to host the Football World Cup 2022.
The Guardian, a UK-based media, has reported that more than 6,500 migrant workers lost their lives during the period from 2011 to 2020. With the death of 2,711, India tops the list of workers who died during this period.
'Qatar supports Visit Nepal 2020 Year initiative'
Around 48 percent deaths of Nepali workers were reported as ‘natural deaths’ often attributed to sudden and unexplained heart or respiratory failure.
Likewise, 16 percent Nepali workers died in road accidents, 10 percent each in workplace accident and suicide, nine percent with diseases like hemorrhage and kidney failures and one percent were murdered. The causes of deaths of seven percent were unknown.
In the past 10 years, Qatar has embarked on an unprecedented building programme, largely in preparation for the world cup football tournament in 2022. In addition to seven new stadiums, dozens of major projects have been completed or are underway, including a new airport, roads, public transport systems, hotels and a new city, which will host the World Cup final, The Guardian reports.
Apart from Nepal and India, most of the job-seekers were from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. On an average, 12 migrant workers every week were the victims of occupational fatalities during the period.
