12 more Lankan workers in Mid East die from COVID-19

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) says that Twelve more Sri Lankan migrant workers in Middle Eastern countries have died due to COVID-19 during last three weeks.

Over 30 Sri Lankan migrant workers employed in Middle Eastern countries are reported to have died during the COVID-19 pandemic.

By June 19, there were twenty three COVID-19 deaths of Sri Lankans who were working in Middle Eastern countries. According to the Spokesperson of the SLBFE, Mangala Randeniya, the deaths have been reported from United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Lebanon. “There were only two women among the 35 deaths. The rest is men,” he said.

The 35 deceased Sri Lankans include 33 men and 2 females, and the deaths have been reported from March 2020 to date, he said.

The deaths were reported from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Oman, and Lebanon.

Funeral of the deceased have been conducted  in the respective countries in line with the health guidelines issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), Mangala Randeniya added. 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, over 50,000 Sri Lankan migrant workers mainly in Gulf countries are left with no way out as the government delayed their repatriations citing safety reasons and lack of quarantine facilities in the country. Following increasing demands, the Sri Lankan government recently resumed the repatriation process.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankans stranded in the Middle East due to the coronavirus pandemic have called on the Sri Lankan Government to expedite their repatriation.

The Sri Lankan migrant workers are reported to be facing a crisis after being stranded and remain without facilities to return to Sri Lanka.

The stranded Sri Lankans have called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to initiate and expedite their return to Sri Lanka.

A majority of the Sri Lankans are said to have lost their employment, while some are said to be in a crisis without sufficient food. 

The spokesman said the Foreign Employment Bureau is working with the Embassies of the respective countries to provide the insurance cover, compensation and arrears the deceased workers entitled to their families.