KATHMANDU, June 23:The Non-Resident Nepalis’ Association (NRNA) has welcomed the citizenship bill approved by the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee

Committee decision has come as a next step to ensure citizenship to those Nepalis associated with NRNA. It has ensured the constitutional rights to the NRNA.

“Further categorizing citizenship in four kinds, the bill has made separate provision on NRNA,” said Vice-Chairman of NRNA, Dr Badri KC, adding that it was very positive endeavour indeed. The NRNA, as Dr KC said, had been putting forth this demand science 2009.

Moreover, he said the NRNA believes that the bill will now be passed by both parliaments by not doing anything different from the Committee’s proposal.

He also hoped similar cooperation from the political parties in future. However, there would not have political right to NRNA with the bill.( RSS)
—-

KATHMANDU, June 22: The Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has instituted a literary award of Rs 200,000.
The Nepali Language, Literature, Culture and Heritage Committee of the NRNA is set to initiate necessary process for the award.
In this connection, Committee’s Communication Coordinator Gautam Dahal informed that the committee would develop necessary work procedure to that end.
Dahal further shared that the award would be presented to a writer of the best literary piece selected among the literary creations published by the Non Resident Nepali. The author of the best literary piece would be honoured with gold medal along with Rs 200,000 in cash in every two years.
Likewise, the Committee has also urged all Nepali across the globe to mark the Bhanubhakta Acharya Birth Anniversary Day (Asar 29) as the international Nepali Language Day

KATHMANDU, June 21: Since the government decided to evacuate the stranded Nepalis abroad on the priority basis since June 5, altogether 3,108 Nepalis have been brought back home in the chartered flights so far.

Nepalis who were living in camps abroad, the jobless ones and those whose visas were expired have been initially flown to Nepal from various countries in a coordinated effort among the government’s diplomatic missions abroad, Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) and the government of those countries.

Government evacuated 118 Nepalis from Malaysia, 317 from the UAE and 898 from Kuwait since the evacuation process was initiated. Likewise, 12 Nepalis have flown home from Japan, 18 from Afghanistan, 7 from Hong Kong, 26 from Myanmar and 11 from Australia over the course.

A total of 258 Nepalis returned home from Bangladesh, 313 from Oman, 305 from the Maldives and 146 from Cambodia and Singapore and 248 from Thailand.

The government brought back 44 Nepalis struck in Sri Lanka, 44 in Qatar, 153 in Saudi Arabia and 228 from South Korea.
Similarly, NRNA’s Health Committee’s coordinator Dr Sanjeev Sapkota shared that so far 130 Nepalis living and working in various 13 countries died due to COVID-19, with three new causalities reported this week. Four new COVID-19 cases were reported in Nepalis in African countries this week.
Nepal’s COVID-19 cases tally has reached 8,605 till date as per the latest statistic of the Ministry of Health and Population while a total of 17,797 Nepalis staying in 35 countries have been reported to have contracted the flu-like infection.
Over 10,000 COVID-19 infected Nepalis in 18 countries such as Australia, Malta, Poland, New Zealand, Germany and Sweden among others have recovered from the deadly infection.
The government has also initiated the process to bring back the dead bodies of Nepalis who died abroad due to various reasons during the ongoing lockdown ordered in the country since March 24 to contain the outbreak of COVID-19.
A total of 40 bodies have been flown to Nepal in a chartered flight among them 20 were from Qatar, 11 from Malaysia, six from Kuwait, and one each from Oman, UAE and Saudi Arabia.

While 318 deaths of Nepalis abroad were recorded during the lockdown, the final rites of 114 deceased persons were performed by the deceased’s families in those countries. The 164 dead bodies of Nepalis are yet to be managed, informed NRNA press coordinator Chiran Sharma. RSS

KATHMANDU, May 31: The number of Nepalis who died of coronavirus outside Nepal has reached 121. Seven Nepalis lost their lives in the past week, according to the Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA).

Two Nepalis died in Bahrain while one each died in the United Arab Emirates, the UK, the USA, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The highest number of deaths of NRNs has been recorded in the UK, where 66 have died so far, said NRNA health committee coordinator Dr Sanjib Sapkota.

Furthermore, 19 died in the UAE and 17 in the USA, eight in Saudi Arabia, three in Bahrain, two in Kuwati and one each in Qatar, Ireland, Japan, Turkey, the Netherlands and Sweden. The pandemic has killed seven Nepalis inside the country.

The number of infections in NRNs outside Nepal has reached 14,425, with infections in 34 countries around the globe. Of those infected, some 4,500 Nepalis have recovered from COVID-19. Over 1400 Nepalis have been infected inside the country.

Meanwhile, the NRNA has welcomed the decision of the government to rescue Nepalis who are stranded in different countries as a result of COVID-19. The NRNA Chair Kumar Pant has said that the NRNA was ready to provide all possible support in this regard.

The NRNA has also discussed the status of Nepali through its National Coordination Council on Saturday.  A discussion was held with office-bearers in more than 80 NRNA chapters around the world, NRNA general secretary Dr Hem Raj Sharma said. RSS

KATHMANDU, May 24: The novel coronavirus has killed 117 and infected nearly 13,000 Nepalis worldwide as of Sunday, according to Non-resident Nepalis Association. Of the total deaths, 21 occurred in the past week alone.

The highest number of deaths has been recorded in the United Kingdom at 65, followed by 18 in the United Arab Emirates and 16 in the United States, according to Coordinator of the NRNA Health Committee Dr. Sanjib Sapkota Dr. Sanjeev Sapkota.

Similarly, seven have died in Saudi Arabia, one each in Qatar, Ireland, Japan, Turkey, the Netherlands, Bahrain, Sweden and Kuwait. Nepal has reported three deaths and 584 infections.

Of them, 95 are males and 19 are females. Fifty-three percent of the deceased are between 50 and 90 years old.

Likewise, the virus has infected 12, 821 so far. The highest number of infections is recorded in Qatar with 6,911 cases, followed by 1,600 in the US, 1,230 in the UK and 1,364 in Saudi Arabia. Of them, 4,000 have recovered.

KATHMANDU, May 17: A total of 96 non-resident Nepalis have died of coronavirus in different parts of the world as of Saturday.

The highest number of deaths has been recorded in the United Kingdom with 63 fatalities, according to the Non-Resident Nepalis Association. Likewise, 15 people have died in the US, nine in the UAE, two in Saudi Arabia, one each in Ireland, Japan, Turkey, the Netherlands, Bahrain and Sweden, Dr. Sanjib Sapkota of the NRNA health committee said.

The deceased include 77 men and 19 women.

The number of those infected with COVID-19 has reached 6,781, the infection rate highest in the middle east at 53 percent. Nepalis living in 19 countries have been infected.

The NRNA has continued distributing relief support to the Nepalis affected by the COVID-19. As of Saturday, more than 38,000 NRNs have been supported directly while above 40,000 have received consultation and counseling support, NNRA general secretary Dr. Hemraj Sharma said. Finance support worth Rs. 5.5 million has been sent to Nepalis in Malaysia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Malta and Cyprus The NRNA has been bringing out a weekly status report of NRNs around the world since the COVID-19 broke out every Sunday. RSS

KATHMANDU, May 3: The number of non-resident Nepalis who died of coronavirus has reached 73 as of Saturday evening.

According to the Non-resident Nepalis Association (NRNA), 49 of them died in the United Kingdom. Likewise, 15 died in the United States, five in the United Arab Emirates and one each in Ireland, Japan, Turkey and the Netherlands, according to Coordinator of the NRNA health committee Dr. Sajiv Sapkota. Likewise, 5,247 have been infected with the virus in 27 different countries around the world. 1,570 have recovered from the virus.

The number of infected continues to rise in some middle-east countries, Dr. Sapkota said. Some, 2,300 Nepali workers are reported to have been infected in the gulf alone.

The NRNA has been provided relief support to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 45 countries, NRNA General Secretary Dr. Hem Raj Sharma said, which have benefitted more than 35,000 NRNs.

Since it was first reported in Wuhan, China in late December, the virus has killed 244,803 people infected 3,485,936 worldwide.

KATHMANDU, April 26: The number of Nepalis killed by the global pandemic has reached 49 while nearly people have been infected by the virus, according to Non-resident Nepalis Association Health Committee.

Of the total deaths till Saturday evening, 33 have died in the United Kingdom, 10 in the United States, two in the United Arab Emirates and one each in the Ireland, Japan, Turkey and the Netherlands.

Likewise, 1,983 people in 24 countries have been infected by the virus.

According to Committee Coordinator Dr Sanjiv Sapkota, the number of infection is highest in the US with 1,000 cases, followed by 700 in the UK, 81 in the UAE, 49 in Bahrain, 42 in Kuwait, 27 in Portugal, 22 in Ireland, 12 in Spain, 11 in Australia, six in Belgium, five in Switzerland, four each in the Saudi Arabia and Germany, three each in Malaysia, Canada, New Zealand and Cyprus and two each in Japan, Hong Kong, and Malta and one each in France.

The Committee has been collecting details to this regard from 36 NRN doctors working in several hospitals abroad, diplomatic mission, its chapters and local organizations.

NRNA general secretary Dr Hemraj Sharma said the association has mobilized 900 volunteers through its chapters in 41 countries for the assistance of NRNs affected by COVID-19.

Inside the country, the COVID-19 cases has climbed to 51 after two more infections were reported on Sunday. No deaths have been reported so far.

The virus has infected 2,923,656 people and killed 203,317 people globally.

KATHMANDU, April 21: The government is fully informed and aware of the Nepalis stranded abroad and will start the process of bringing them back home once the pandemic situation turns favorable, said Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali.

In a video conference with the Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) presidents of 11 countries that are worst hit by COVID-19 pandemic, he informed the Nepali community abroad, through the NRNA presidents, that it was not immediately possible to rescue and bring home the Nepalis stranded abroad as the lockdown period has been extending in Nepal.

“The government is fully aware and informed of the Nepalis stranded abroad. we will start the process of returning them to Nepal once the situation becomes favorable,” Foreign Affairs Minister Gyawali said, adding, “the government is positive regarding promptly addressing the problems of the Nepali migrant workers, mainly in the Gulf region.”

He asserted that the government will seek a solution to the issue through consultations with the diplomatic missions and NRNA, urging the non-resident Nepalis in those countries to have patience.

The Minister lauded the role played by the Nepalis in difficult circumstances and thanked the NRNA for its active role in activities like spreading public awareness against COVID-19 and distributing relief to the needy Nepalis abroad in the present adverse situation. He also informed that the government has been holding discussions with countries affected by coronavirus and that the Nepali embassies have been activated to work together with NRNA in countries where Nepal does not have its diplomatic missions.

In the meeting, NRNA International Committee President, Kumar Panta, said the government has adopted effective steps towards prevention of coronavirus pandemic. He also lauded the decision of the government to enforce a lockdown across the country.

“NRNA is ready to work together with the government in terms of the relief programs directed at the Nepalis on foreign employment who have been affected by COVID-19,” he added.

The NRNA presidents voiced the problems faced by students, ex-British Gurkhas soldiers and the Nepali migrant workers abroad. They also talked about distribution of relief and health safety equipment to them as well as the management of those Nepalis who want to return home immediately. They also suggested the government to formulate short-term and long-term economic policy as the country could reel under economic recession due to the adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

The NRNA presidents from the United Kingdom, Germany, America, Italy, Spain, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, France, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, among other countries, participated in the video conference. High officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also present on the occasion. RSS

KATHMANDU, April 19: The COVID-19 has killed 28 and infected over 1000 Nepalis living abroad, according to a data released by Non-resident Nepali Association (NRNA).

Of them, 17 died in the United Kingdom, eight in the United States, two in the United Arab Emirates and one in Ireland.

Likewise, a total of 1,166 Nepalis has been infected by the virus in 21 countries. Most infections have been reported in the US with 700 cases, followed by 200 in the UK, 71 in the UAE, 22 each in Ireland and Portugal, 21 in Kuwait, 11 in Australia, 10 in Spain, five in Switzerland, four each in Germany, Belgium and Saudi Arabia, five in Switzerland, three each in Canada and Malaysia, two in Malta and one each in France, Japan, Myanmar and Hong Kong.

The NRNA has mobilized its country chapters to support the families who have lost members to coronavirus.

As of Thursday, relief support was provided to more than 10,000 coronavirus affected persons in more than two dozen countries, NRNA president Pant said.

The virus has infected 31 people in Nepal so far. Of them 28 are still active.

A 19-year-old girl — Nepal’s second case — was discharged from Shukraraaj Tropical & Infectious Disease Hospital after a complete recovery on Saturday.

The first case was confirmed on January 23. He recovered as well.

As of April 19, the virus has infected 2,332,466 people and killed 160,784 people globally. A total of 600,006 patients have recovered.