19 Iraq-bound Nepalese stranded in Dubai

At least 19 Nepalese youths, headed for war-ravaged Iraq looking for job opportunities, have been left high and dry in Dubai for the past one month, reports Kantipur Daily.

These youths have been stranded in Dubai as they have still not acquired Iraqi visas. To add to their problem, their tourist visas have already expired.

These youths had arrived in Dubai on tourist visas about a month ago after paying Rs 300,000 each to agents in Kathmandu. They had been promised a job in Iraq with a basic salary of Rs 40,000.

Krishna Prasad Sharma of Baglung, whose son Madhav Sharma is in the group, informed that the Nepali youths are languishing in Dubai over a month now and are now desperately seeking help as their visas have expired as they failed to acquire Iraqi visas. It has been learnt that the youth are not in a position to return to Nepal either as they do not have the money.

Meanwhile, a Nepali working at Ballad base camp in Iraq died Saturday evening (Oct 11).

Mohan Prasad Sharma, who had been working as a security guard at the local KBR Company died of heart attack, one of his colleagues said.

“The body has already been sent to Kuwait on Tuesday and will be sent back home this week,” said Ram Prasad Pant, Sharma’s colleague. nepalnews.com Oct 16 08