Despair in Dubai by Nitu Ghale

Photo: Dipesh Bhattarai

DESPAIR IN DUBAI: In July when Dipesh Bhattarai, 21, read that Nepal will resume international flights by mid-August, he was thrilled. Bhattarai has been stuck in Dubai for the last four months on an expired visa without a job and no way to support himself. A few days ago Bhattarai’s excitement turned into disappointment when the Nepal government reversed the decision and announced that international commercial flights will remain suspended until 31 August.

Bhattarai is from Bardiya and he left two years ago because he wanted to support his family. In Dubai, he worked as a supply assistant. He calls the Nepali Embassy in Dubai every day but has not been successful, “The Embassy doesn’t answer when people like us call,” he says.

Bhattarai has no food, he is running out of money, and his passport is with his former employers, “They took our passports the day we entered Dubai because they think we will run away so they keep them for safekeeping,” he says adding, “This is not my country, and my country does not want me, I feel like I don’t belong anywhere.”

Text: Nitu Ghale @eastern_keen
Photos sent by: Dipesh Bhattarai
Edit: Mallika Aryal @mikaness

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