The government has begun preliminary preparations for the possible evacuation of Nepali citizens living in conflict-affected regions of the Middle East, as tensions in the region continue to raise concerns about the safety of migrant workers.
Foreign Minister Balananda Sharma said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a Situation Center to monitor developments and coordinate potential emergency responses. The centre will gather information on the location, status, and circumstances of Nepali citizens abroad while preparing the groundwork for rescue operations if the situation worsens.
According to government estimates, between 2.5 million and 3 million Nepalis are currently living and working overseas through both formal and informal migration channels. A significant number of them are employed in Gulf and Middle Eastern countries. Authorities acknowledge that evacuating such a large population in a crisis would be complex and would require strong national planning and infrastructure.
Officials say the government is working to ensure it is prepared to respond if necessary while also monitoring the situation closely. Many Nepali migrant workers rely on overseas employment for their livelihoods, and their circumstances during conflicts can be different from those of other citizens abroad.
The ministry’s internal assessment suggests that recent hostilities involving Israel and Iran have begun to ease after a period of intense escalation. Officials believe the most difficult phase of the conflict may have already passed and expect tensions to gradually decline.
The government has also said that Nepali citizens are not direct targets of the conflict and there is no immediate reason for widespread panic. At the same time, authorities are working to resolve issues faced by a small number of Nepali travellers currently stranded in transit due to disruptions in regional travel routes.