Even as Kerala CM flags workers’ plight
Responding to India’s concerns, the United Arab Emirates has offered to fly stranded Indian nationals who want to return home in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ambassador Ahmed Al Banna told The Hindu on Friday that the government of UAE has decided to help all countries fly their citizens home after the completion of the necessary medical tests.
“We have reached out to all foreign governments to repatriate their nationals including testing them before they leave and if found positive to treat them here. A note verbale to all embassies was sent seeking the help of all governments,” said Dr. Al Banna
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The repatriation offer would be available only to those citizens unaffected by the viral outbreak, Dr. Al Banna said.
The assurance comes on a day when Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to persuade the UAE to ensure that the large workforce of Keralites in that country was effectively insulated from the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
In a letter to Mr. Modi, Mr. Vijayan said Keralites, who made up the bulk of blue colour workers in the Emirates, lived in crowded faciliti