Undocumented Nepali workers in Bahrain reluctant to take jabs

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The reluctance of undocumented workers in registering for COVID-19 vaccination in Bahrain, offered for free, had put the Nepali mission in the Kingdom in a tight spot, reports the Kathmandu Post.

The report, which put the number of undocumented Nepali workers in the Kingdom as 600, citing Padam Sundas, Nepali Ambassador to Bahrain, says that only “50 have come forward and enrolled for the free Covid-19 vaccines.” On the other hand, Sunday points out that nearly “95% of around 35,000 documented Nepali workers in Bahrain have received the shots.”

The concern is only regarding the 600 undocumented workers who are reluctant to register for their jabs.

The embassy, the ambassador told the report, now plans to reach them through their friends to assure that “no actions would be taken against them.”

Not a big number “The number of undocumented workers is not big, but we want to ensure that they are also vaccinated,” the report quoting Sundas said.

“When we contacted the employers to inquire about the deaths, we found that they had not received the vaccine.

Employers told us that some of the workers were also hesitant to get vaccinated.” The newspaper points out that, unlike most other countries, Bahrain is also offering to vaccinate illegal immigrants and workers.

The situation, the report highlights, occurs when most other countries, including Nepal, are scrambling for COVID-19 vaccines.

Kathmandu Post reveals that the Nepali mission in Manama had published a notice called undocumented Nepali workers to register for COVID-19 jabs.

“However, the response to the free Covid-19 vaccination offer has not been encouraging even after repeated calls by the embassy.”

Low turnout The report, quoting Sundas, says, “In an act of generosity, the Bahraini government said it would vaccinate everyone, including undocumented Nepali workers.”

“Therefore, we wanted to organise a camp for them and published a notice so that undocumented Nepalis would come forward to get vaccinated.”

The report further points out the embassy had, after experiencing a low turnout, had posted another notice on its Facebook page calling on undocumented workers “not to miss the opportunity.”

Do not fear, it’s not a trap “Maybe they fear they could be arrested if they came for vaccination,” Sundas surmised. “However, their fear is unfounded.

We can ensure that no such actions will be taken against them. The vaccines have been made available also for undocumented workers so that everyone living in the country is safe.” The ambassador told the Post that there is no need to fear arrest or any legal actions “because the notice is genuinely for vaccinating them, not a trap to detain them.” “Government know who are they” According to Sundas, the Bahraini government had the details of all undocumented Nepali workers and “knows who are they and where they have been living.”

“They must be hiding under the illusion that they cannot be tracked. If the authorities wanted, they could take action against them within hours.

So we request them to avoid the fear of being arrested and use the opportunity to receive the vaccine,” the report quotes Sundas as saying.

15 died of COVID in Bahrain The report also points out that a total of 15 Nepalis have died of Covid-19 in Bahrain. “Of them, 13 died during the ongoing second wave of the pandemic.”