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.
Comments
Ram Naik India is not belongs to you there is a COMMON constitution to
all INDIANS. The seat which you holding is a respective ONE. Don't misuse or try to pollute. If you people not respecting the constitution then your same policy will destroy you.
cheddis are missing here also....
O armed cheddis show u r stamina against most wanted BABA's..
Beliye Eddu Hola Meidanthe
Where are Mulla Mulayam, his son akilesh and their wazeer azam khan ?
and bargain king Shahi imam ? All are using minorities as vote Bank. AAP is best solution for all the problem in the current scenario.
hahahaha muah what a word rama naik ji ... saabis are burning ... obba thirdrated saying we have guts only when we have drinks .. ofcourse even their ummah gang that is ISIS , uses drugs to fight . one slum shaiekh saying one verse .. hahaha ... just 2 million millitarised jewish army , 56 muslim nations cannot do anything .. they are doing mujra infront of israel .. just imagive if hindus are millitarised ... pinkaan and gaddakke benki hatchiteevi rashtradrohi. galige .. jai sri ram ... even pakistan has 200 million muzzies and 200 nukes .. but they cannot stop drone attack from USA in their country .. pakistan claims they are the protectors of holy sights ... hahaha ... first to take weapons are jewish ,then christians now hindus along with buddhists . who wants these rogue irrtitating culture ... hara hara mahadev , arm hindus for the protection of bharath mata , which is under threat from jihadists and islamic mercnearies ...
narendra Modi govt compliments to hindu terrorist......
I request muslim organisations to provide same arm camps to all of their members...
It is the duty of Governor to maintain Law and order in co-ordination with state govt. instead it supports this kind of illegal activities.
If people are allowed to take Arms what will be the future of Inida..
It is shame to the democratic country like India and going back to the old age where there was no Law and order.
It is the Duty of the governor to maintain Law and order with co-ordination of State Govt. and instead supporting sangh parivar to violate Law and order in the name of self defense!!!
If the Ruler itself is supporting this kind of activities just imagine what will be the future of India....
terrorists are trained and government is defending it.
They only have guts to fight someone wen they drink alchohol....
Let them practice or get trained!! Remember one thing - \ Jo bhi hota hai, Manzure khuda hota hai!! Maarne wale se bachane wala bada hai wahi hamara Parwardigar hai!!"
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