KATHMANDU, May 26: Prime Minister K P Oli has said that the government will evacuate Nepali nationals living in distressed conditions in various countries.
In a televised address to the nation late Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Oli said that the government is sensitive toward the concerns of Nepali nationals living in different countries. "The government will rescue its citizens living abroad on time. The government is sensitive towards its citizens. I want you to be fully assured," he said.
This comes amid calls by Nepali migrant workers, mainly in Gulf countries and Malaysia, to evacuate them as early as possible as a number of them have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Prime Minister Oli, however, did not say when the government will start evacuating the migrant workers.
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While stating that COVID-19 tests should be made mandatory for those returning home, Prime Minister Oli said that those returning home from India facing severe hardship have contributed to further spread COVID-19 in Nepal.
"Those returning home from India even after facing a number of hardships have contributed to spreading this disease in the country," he said. The prime minister said that the government is in favor of making the COVID-19 test mandatory for all those returning home.
Prime Minister Oli said that more cases of COVID-19 could be seen in Nepal for sometime to come. He said that the government would take necessary initiatives to avoid community transmission of COVID-19 in the country.