Nepal should stop sending Nepalis in Israel until the situation becomes normalised
As per preliminary media reports, at least nine Nepali nationals, both workers and students, were injured, some of them seriously, when Palestinian militant group Hamas launched 'surprise air and ground' attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip on Saturday.
Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in its statement, said two among the injured are in serious condition.
A farm, where 14 Nepalis were working, was also under attack. The Nepali Embassy in Israel is in close communication with the Nepalis living in the area under attack and is coordinating with the Israeli authorities for the safety, security and rescue of Nepalis as well as medical treatment of the injured. Nepali nationals in Israel have been requested to remain cautious and follow the safety measures advised by the authorities. There are as many as 250 agriculture students, and 4,500 Nepalis are employed in Israeli farms under the "Learn and Earn" programme of the Israeli government. International news portals have reported that Nepalis are in a hostel and shielding themselves. The area is inaccessible because of intense fighting. Nepal has strongly condemned the "terrorist" attack on Israel that caused loss of precious human lives and injured many more. Following the surprise attack on its soil, Israel has launched its own offensives. The conflict is likely to escalate in the region, already intense between the two sides.
Israel's Ambassador to Nepal Hanan Goder has said his country was at war with Hamas "terrorists".
Around 100 Hamas group members infiltrated around 20 or even more places and launched hundreds of rockets against civilian targets within Israel. The situation is not clear even now as gun battles are still going on between Israeli forces and the Hamas group at around seven places. Goder has thanked the Nepal government for condemning the terrorist attack on Israel and expressing solidarity with Israel. According to Nepali Ambassador to Israel Kanta Rijal, two of the nine injured Nepali students are in serious condition and they were hiding inside a bunker. She said she has already communicated with the Israeli authorities about the health condition of the injured Nepali students.
What is important for the government of Nepal right now is to make sure that all the Nepalis working and studying in Israel are safe and the injured get timely medical treatment. Israel has been a major labour destination for Nepali youths wishing to work on modern agriculture farms. Hundreds of Nepali youths return home every year after gaining the necessary skills and training in Israel's agriculture sector, which is considered the most advanced in the world.
Should the tension flare up between Israel and the Hamas group in the days to come, it will be difficult for the Nepali workers and students to continue with their studies and work there. At the same time, the Nepal government should also reconsider sending a new batch of Nepali students and workers in Israel until the situation becomes normalised. All the Nepali students and workers in Israel, especially in the Gaza Strip, are advised to be touch with the Nepali officials in case of any untoward situation that they might confront. The international community should also come forward to stop the deadly clashes that have been taking place there.
Tremors spark fear
Aftershocks continue to haunt hundreds of families in Bajhang, Bajura and Achham, forcing them to take shelter in the open. The Dashain festival starts early next week, but the people are having to live in constant fear due to the repeated jolts from the earthquake that struck Bajhang last week. Residential homes apart, schools and public buildings have also been damaged. Thus, it will take some time for life to return to normalcy in these affected districts of Sudurpaschim Province.
Nepal lies in a high-risk seismic zone, and western Nepal has not experienced a major earthquake for centuries. Although it is hard to predict when a major quake will occur, it is estimated that huge amounts of energy have been accumulating in the western part of the country due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. Experts even warn of a quake of 9 magnitude in western Nepal, which could having devastating impact on not only Nepal but also Delhi in India. We cannot stop an earthquake from happening, but we can prepare for it. Haphazard construction of houses without following the building code in both towns and villages could invite largescale destruction. It's is thus better to be safe now than to be sorry later.
A version of this article appears in the print on October 9, 2023, of The Himalayan Times
