30,000 Nepali workers ordered repatriation from Iraq

(July 27, 2010) The United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) in Baghdad has ordered the repatriation within 20 days of foreign workers in Iraq whose countries have banned its citizens from entering that country. The decision also includes 30,000 Nepali workers employed in US military bases. The purpose is to stop human trafficking between South Asia and the Middle East. In 2004, twelve Nepali workers were beheaded by a Sunny militant group, causing Nepali Hindus to retaliate against Nepali Muslims. The government in Kathmandu reacted by banning Nepalis from working in Iraq. However, thousands of them still made it to that country looking for work. Currently, many are employed in menial jobs or are hired as security staff by foreign companies. According to Nepali police, each migrant pays close to US$ 4,000 to traffickers to get into Iraq. A group of Iraqi-based Nepali workers has set up a committee to press the government to lift the ban. The families of Nepali workers as well as the nation depend heavily on remittances from abroad, which make up about 40 per cent of the government’s budget.