To curb the surge in Covid-19 incidents, hundreds of Indians are stranded in Dubai following Saudi Arabia’s temporary ban on the entry of citizens from 20 foreign countries, including India. Saudi-bound Indians who had already left their home country and those who were eager to finish their 14-day quarantine in Dubai to join Saudi are now struck by confusion.

In any of the bordering countries, such as the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Indians who have entered Dubai as foreigners bound to Saudi Arabia cannot enter the kingdom unless they undergo a 14-day quarantine.

PA Hameed, a lawyer, and social worker in Riyadh said that due to the ban, many who finished the 14-day quarantine period in Dubai on Wednesday could not continue their journey to Saudi. He said that most of the stranded Indians are blue-collar workers who are unable to afford an extended stay in Dubai. They have already invested an immense amount in the 14-day quarantine.

He also wrote a letter to Minister S Jaishankar of External Affairs requesting his help in order to save the Indians from the crisis. The letter says that families, kids, and pregnant women are among those stranded. The Indian government has been asked to take effective action immediately to ensure the entry of stranded Indians into Saudi on humanitarian grounds by carrying out diplomatic measures with the Saudi Arabian Government.

Sufiyan, who hails from Mangalore and works as a laborer in Saudi Arabia, said he had traveled to Dubai after taking a loan from his relatives. “Now, I am stuck in Dubai and I do not have enough money for this extended stay,” he said.

Source: The New Indian Express