MORE than 52,000 foreign workers of different nationalities have left Bahrain on chartered flights during the pandemic last year, it has emerged.
Indians formed the major portion of these expatriates who flew back on special chartered flights.
However, officials said many of the Indians have since returned to Bahrain, or are expected to.
Under the Vande Bharat Mission, an Air India flight carrying 93 passengers, including two infants, left for Mumbai yesterday.
“More than 50,000 Indian nationals travelled from Bahrain to India under Vande Bharat Mission flights,” an Indian Embassy official told the GDN yesterday.
Meanwhile, a chartered flight carrying 264 Filipinos, including 201 from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, left for Manila from Bahrain International Airport yesterday.
Special Envoy of the Philippines President and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Under-Secretary Robert Borje is currently heading his country’s delegation to Bahrain.
Accompanying him is Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila Under-Secretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola.
They are part of the Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) Mission to Bahrain.
“The last repatriation flight for 2020 left for Manila carrying 63 passengers from Bahrain and 201 from Dubai and Abu Dhabi,” Philippines Ambassador Alphonso Ver told the GDN yesterday.
“Overall, the DFA has flown home close to 330,000 overseas Filipinos from different countries, including Bahrain,” he added.
Another mission that was active last year in helping its nationals is the Thai Embassy; there are about 8,000 Thais in Bahrain.
“Our nationals work in the hospitality sector, such as hotels, restaurants and spas, which was severely affected by Covid-19,” said the Royal Thai Embassy.
“Many lost their jobs and the embassy flew back 2,069 Thais on 11 repatriation flights.
“The next repatriation Gulf Air flight to Bangkok will be on January 16.”
The embassy, meanwhile, urged its nationals who wished to remain in Bahrain to legalise their stay or apply for the flexi work permit.
“Thai investors and business owners have also received support from Bahrain government’s initiatives, helping alleviate the impact of the pandemic and extend their lifelines.”
The mission also provided more than 1,500 food parcels to its nationals between April and June last year.
The Sri Lankan Embassy’s repatriation flight last month carried 290 passengers and other 463 Sri Lankans on two previous flights.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
&uuid=(email))