The unexpected lockdown to prevent spread of covid–19 has caused a serious damage to the lives of Indian expatriates irrespective of laborers and entrepreneurs in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Different stories of expatriates' ordeals are emerging from the region.
Abdul Razaq, hailing from Udupi in Karnataka has been running small scale business at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, based on oil refinery projects of the government. He was undergoing medical treatment for his cancer which is in fist stage. He explaines his ordeals caused by lockdown and stopping the flight facility.
“I was regularly visiting home country for the treatment of cancer. Now I cannot go as international flight service has been stopped. I expect that government will hear problems of expatriates and will arrange facilities to take us back to home”, he said.
Mubeen from Bengaluru was working on temporary basis for a company in Jubail. He had lost his jobs like some of his colleagues due to the lockdown.
“As everything was alright, I had brought my parents recently to Saudi Arabia on a visit visa. Things changed drastically with covid-19 attack. Continuous lockdown caused burden over the company and they removed temporary employees like me to control possible losses” he said.
“Now owner of the flat has been harassing me for the rent. I do not have money either to pay rent or to cover daily family expenses. I do not know what to do further”, he added.
Iqbal from Mangaluru left for Saudi Arabia to help his family. He got a job in a juce centre in Dammam recently. Corona lockdown made his life difficult. He is eager to return his home country.
“I came to Saudi Arbia because of financial difficulties as I had not found any job with good salary there. I thought I can earn well by going to Saudi Arabia. However, here too the salary was not so good. Now juice center is closed due to lockdown and sponsor is giving very small amount of money as salary through which we cannot afford our expenses and our families back in home,” he said.
“Here It is not easy get help of fellow Indians since most of them have their own ordeals. I would like to return home country; there however we can manage to get help of friends and relatives. I am looking forward the help of Indian government to start air facility for stranded NRIs,” he said.
Mohsin from Mysuru is a taxi driver in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. He was earning on commission basis. Now Saudi government banned movement of taxis in the region, which pushed him and his fellow taxi drivers into trouble.
“We were earning commissions daily on the basis of trips. Now we cannot move outside with taxi since it may cause us to pay the fine of SR.10000. How can I manage my expenses and family members in home?”, he asked.
There are cases of pregnant women who have to return India for delivery. Those who brought family here on visit visa will not have insurance. Delivery charges and any kind of medical facilities without insurance in Saudi Arabia is very expensive. Expatriate Indians with such problems are awaiting government's help.
“I had brought my wife on one year visit visa. Now she is pregnant and I have to send her back to home for delivery. If lockdown continues, it is difficult to send back and we have to spend big amounts for delivery without insurance. It is a big burden to me as I work for small salary in a company”, said Yunus from Hyderabad, who is living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Lockdown is haunting even entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia. Most of expatriates in the industrial hub of Jubail are doing business based on Saudi Government’s oil refinery projects. Saudi Arabia temporarily stopped most of the projects as part of public health safety measures to maintain social distance.
“We are doing business based on oil refinery projects. Now projects are stopped. We brought around 1100 people on work permit visa on temporary basis. And also, we have around 1200 permanent workers. It is a big burden to provide them with food, accommodation and salary. It may cause a big loss for our company”, said owner of expatriates company, Sheikh Mohammed.
Saudi Arabia had reported first corona virus affected case in March 2, 2020. At the end of March, it was 1600 and now it already corssed 6000. Saudi Health ministry has cautioned the number of affected people may rise 10000 to 200,000 and directed for more precautionary measures. In such case, the Indian expatriates may have to face crisis in the region.
Indian expatriate organizations are demanding for immediate intervention of Indian government to ensure better quarantine facility and treatment of NRIs in Saudi Arabia as the cases are increasing rapidly. The condition of laborers in some of the camps are such that seven to eight people should share a single bed room.
“Normally if there is a flat, it will consist three to four bed rooms. In single bedroom companies will provide three four bunk beds and six to eight people should share the room. In such cases, if a person affected with virus it will spread quickly to others. Thus, Indian government should ensure quarantine facility for NRIs”, says Wasim Rabbani, president of Indian Social Forum, Eastern Region, Saudi Arabia.
President of Karnataka Non Residential Indians, A forum for the NRI organizations of Karnataka, Zakaria Muzain says Indian Government should immediately interfere to bring back those stranded NRIs who wish to return home. Government should intervene to pressure Indian embassy to take the issues of troubled expatriates.
“Government should make special flight arrangement for such NRIs in trouble. It should also arrange quarantine facility for those who return to India. Already there are many Non-Governmental charity organization which have come forward to give their facilities for NRIs”, he said.
NRIs from all categories are looking forward for the help of Indian government. It is important to Indian government to take quick action as the problem is increasing in Saudi Arabia.
The suspects were killed after they allegedly escaped from Bhopal Central Jail, killing a security guard, according reports. The encounter by the Madhya Pradesh police took place at the Eintkhedi village just hours after the alleged prison-break.
Comments
how could everyone say muslims are terrorist ??
what abt the ppl who killed muslims in gujrath burma and many other part of india wht do u call thm nationlist we are proud indian muslims we bron here we will die here and we by birth indian and also by choice we are india muslims we all muslims respect all the reliogs and y u ppl cant respect muslims i guess u dont hve any muslim frnds that y u dont know abt the muslims and some ppl working in islamic country and they are paid in gd salary still they blame islam y ? b4 saying to muslims plzz look into some hindu terrorist also wht they do wht they hve done
So Bhupanna , you are also barking like ISIS DOGS...... which is created by USA...
The day is not far off, when start to wag your tails....
That's what all ISIS people say mr shitty Kazi
Bhupanna .....72 virgins are waiting for you in Himalayas.... do not quote any lies here.... can you quote from where u got this figure of 72... only scou**rels quote this figure ....
If u say all terrorists are not Muslims and agree that the 8 people who were killed are non Muslims why are you shedding tears for them ?
72 virgins await for them anyway. They should thank the Indian police for giving them Hannah so soon rather than waste taxpayers money eating biriyani.
HAPPY DIWALI
rajesh, india
First of all you need to understand that there is nothing called islamic terrorists. If you call these 8 people as islamic terrorists then what what label you would like to give to Praveen Togadiya, Karnal Purohith, Sadhvi prajna, Swami aseemanand and all the members of sanghi terrorist organizations.
As brother RAJESH said no mercy should be shown who kills innocent people.I personally Agree and Support our brother RAJESH comments.
Also shoot the terrorist who raped and killed innocent Muslim pregnent Women in Gujarath.
Also shoot the terrorist who killed innocent old Muslim men in Dadar.
Also shoot the terrorist who raped and killed 17 year old Harijan sisiter in Bihar.
Also shoot the terrorist who killed Praveen Poojari in Udupi in the name of Gou Raakshaka.
Also shoot the terrorist who killed innocent Harish Poojari last year
Also shoot the terrorist who attacked the Innocent students in Home Stay.
Well said Brother RAJESH.God bless you
Cheddis have people like Bopanna and Rajesh whose head is working worse than DONKEYs ... Whatever given accepts it... without realising the life lost...
There are many CULPRITS who would have been exposed the reality of cheddi's involvement in crimes across india, if the court continues the trial .. it would have even proved the false case against these innocents.
To hide their Evil agenda these kind of killing happening across the country after Cheddi govt is in power...
But Truth will over take the evil whatever evil they play ... We will know the reality very soon God willing.
Bhupanna......do not forget that USA did not hesitate to kill its ambassador, when they wanted to kill Zia ul Haq.... when the xxxxx Indian police wanted to kill 8 people, they have to lose one.... nothing strange.... every one knows the xxxx indian mentality ....
WHat about the Policeman whom they killed ? It's ok is it?
Can I recommend these 8 Muslims for the Nobel Peace prize or at least the Bharath Ratna for services to humanity ?
Of course it is a fake encounter.....well planned....those who played the game they should be punished including all cops...these 8 members including a guard were all innocents.....law did not prove them as guilty as of now...
Yes its FAKE ENCOUNTER..
As someone posted in FB \ Men who escape prison in the morning, had time to change clothes & put on sports shoes\"..."
I think This people Will Target Muslim By Giving The Name SIMI.
whether it is fake or genuine , who cares ... they are islamic terrorists , they must be shot on their head moment we find them , they had killed 187 people by conducting bomb blast based on instruction from isi. superb police ,well done and totally justified .
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