Top diplomats at Indian missions at Abu Dhabi and Dubai thank the community for rising to the occasion to help the fellow beings. Indian Ambassador Pavan Kapoor said that there is no need to panic as hundreds of Indian forums across the country extending their support … reports Iqbal Azeez
Vipul, Consul General of India in Dubai: “We have helped more than 4,000 people with food packets, rations or both through our Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) and with support from various community organisations and Indian associations.
Mr Pavan Kapoor, Ambassador of India, UAE: The government of India once it decides that we are in a position to allow a lot of more overseas Indian back in to the country, we will work closely with the UAE authorities to ensure that this is done in a smooth and efficient manner, of course giving priority to those who need to go earlier. But in the meantime, please don’t panic. Stay safe, stay wherever you are and reach out to us if you need any help
Diplomats at Indian missions in the UAE appeal to the community to stay calm and assure their full support to people in need. They appreciated the contribution of every Indians and other nationalities who extended their support to people in need across the country.
“As the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, I’d like to assure you that all of us in the Embassy here in Abu Dhabi, as well as my colleagues in the Consulate in Dubai, I am here to work with you and see your through these difficult times,” said Mr Pavan Kapoor in a video message in the official Twitter feed.
“I want to start by appreciating the fact that the Indian community here in the UAE has been very good in following the orders and advisories of the UAE government with regard to social distancing as well as curfew. I know that these are difficult times, and the virus is spreading, the number of infected people are increasing, and so is the case of Indian nationals.
The top diplomat appealed to the community to stay calm and there is no need to panic. Organisations like Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) are deploying hundreds of volunteers to help people in need.
“I don’t think there is need to panic. In the UAE, we have one of the best health facilities in the world. I want to appreciate the work of the UAE health authorities and all frontline health workers, the efforts they are making to take care of all the residents in the country including Indian nationals.”
He lauded the efforts of Indian organisations across the country and added that he is proud to join the initiatives to help the fellow Indians.
“I feel very proud that everyone is joining this effort and this is something that we can do together. Finally, I’d like to say, that I know that many of you would like to return back to India, and sure there will be time when this can happen.
“The government of India once it decides that we are in a position to allow a lot of more overseas Indian back in to the country, we will work closely with the UAE authorities to ensure that this is done in a smooth and efficient manner, of course giving priority to those who need to go earlier. But in the meantime, please don’t panic. Stay safe, stay wherever you are and reach out to us if you need any help.”
Situation in Dubai
The Indian Consulate in Dubai has been coordinating various efforts to support the Indian community here in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 4,000 Indian workers and individuals in need have received food packages and supplies from the Consulate General of India in Dubai in the last four weeks, local newspaper reported.
“We have helped more than 4,000 people with food packets, rations or both through our Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) and with support from various community organisations and Indian associations,” said Vipul, Consul General of India in Dubai.
“Three labour camps with 150, 190 and 90 workers have also benefited from the initiative and we have also arranged accommodation for at least 60 people from the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF).”
The Consulate has been coordinating various efforts and activities to support the Indian community in Dubai and Northern Emirates in the wake of the pandemic, including repatriation of mortal remains of 17 deceased Indians.
Ambassador Mr Kumar said the mission is doing their best to help people in distress.
“On our part and the Embassy, we are trying to work with the departments of health to see we can create some facilities to help Indians who are living in clusters, to move out of them if any of them found positive, so that the spread of the disease is controlled,” the top diplomat said.
“We are also trying to help in terms of medical counselling, through telephone lines we have created of Indian doctors, who have volunteered to help out in this service. For those of you, who are afraid of some of the spread of the virus, and need some counselling or how to deal with it, we have further helplines. So if you need help in this regard, please reach out to us.”
The Indian ambassador said there is a network of Indian organisations across the country and the help will be available to all the needy.
“I do understand that several of our fellow beings have problems in accessing food and medicines at this time. Some of our bachelors living in crowded conditions, and are now in conditions of quarantine, where they don’t have access to food, whether it is in the form of cooked food or food kits to prepare food, we are going out of the way to help and reach out to all of you with a lot of help from our volunteers, and all our community associations.”
For COVID19 related medical counselling, please send your queries and contact number to ca.abudhabi@mea.gov.in. A team of doctors will call you back.