Two years ago, Nepal had lashed out at Qatar as well as the international football body Fifa after Doha had refused to allow workers from the South Asian country to visit the funeral of their loved ones who were killed in the devastating earthquake in April 2015.
The Qatari authorities had said then that the urgency to meet the deadline of the World Cup in 2022 was the reason behind the refusal, leaving their Nepalese counterparts fuming.
Now, with Qatar facing a strong backlash from its neighbours in the Arab world on charges of backing terrorist groups, is Nepal feeling happy that some kind of 'divine justice' has been made?
Nepal is too dependent on remittances
Actually, Nepal is not finding it happy this time we well. According to reports from that country, migrant workers from Nepal may have to bear the brunt of the latest Gulf crisis for a number of major airlines have stopped travel to and from the West Asian country.
Carriers operating regular flights to and from Nepal with connecting flights to Qatar have suspended flights until further notice is issued.
According to Nepal's department of foreign employment, over 10,000 Nepalese got fresh labour permits to work in Qatar between mid-December 2016 and mid-January 2017. The country's foreign affairs ministry said the government has asked the Nepali missions in the Gulf region to assess the situation on the ground and report it to the ministry.
Nepal is apprehensive that the suspension of flying to and from Qatar could severely affect the Nepalese economy for the latter is heavily dependent on the remittances (nearly 25 per cent of the country's GDP).
Around five lakh Nepalese work in Nepal and most of them are engaged in the construction sector.
