As many as 1,242 Nepalis died during foreign employment in the last fiscal year, informs the Foreign Employment Board. The deceased include 1,213 men and 29 women, according to the board.
The board’s Executive Director Rajan Shrestha says some of these people were cremated or buried abroad in respective families’ consent owing to transport difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In those cases, the government brought only remains of the bodies for some cultural rites here.
The board record says 427 Nepalis died abroad due to various diseases. Of them, 256 deaths did not look natural.
Likewise, 140 committed suicide following traumatising experiences such as family disputes, workplace pressure and harassment, economic exploitation and pressure to pay back loans. Other 119 died of road accidents during work.
Some Nepalis also died of cardiac arrest and workplace hazards and injuries. Two others were murdered whereas the causes of five persons’ death have not been ascertained yet.
These countries recorded the highest numbers of death cases of Nepali migrant workers:
- Saudi Arabia: 362
- Malaysia: 280
- Qatar: 239
- UAE: 208
- Kuwait: 55
- Bahrain: 31
- South Korea: 13
The highest numbers of the deceased belonged to these districts of Nepal:
- Morang: 58
- Siraha: 57
- Mahottari: 55
- Jhapa: 53
- Syangja: 46
- Sunsari: 44
- Saptari: 44
- Nawalparasi: 40
- Sarlahi: 37
- Chitwan: 36
- Dang: 33
- Kaski: 31
- Each of 77 districts have at least one case.