Ebola panic among Nepalis in W Africa

Mohan Prasad Dhakal, who is working for United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, said, “The government’s decision to issue visas to only those persons who have tested negative for Ebola has left the Nepalis worried.” According to him, there are around 200 Nepalis in Sierra Leone. Raju Sarkar of the United Nations Human Rights said the move to adopt a preventive measure against Ebola is laudable, but the government should also think about the well-being of its citizens based in the disease-affected countries. “The Nepali people are living in terror and they want to return home at a time when there is a widespread rumour that Ebola has infected the entire population in Africa,” he said. Hikmat Thapa, the regional coordinator of Africa for Non Resident Nepali Association, said the Nepal government is not informed about the condition of Nepalis living in the countries that are dealing with Ebola crisis. He said the government’s move has furthered the terror of Nepalis who are already living in fear of contracting the disease. “We have started booking air tickets to return home for Dashain. But, going home means to make a journey with psychological terror,” said Thapa. He added that there are more than 1000 Nepalis living in Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia. The government directive to Nepali missions in West African nations to make Ebola test mandatory for all individuals before issuing them visas has worried the Nepalis living in the disease-affected countries, who are planning to visit their families during the Dashain festival.