Nepalese in Ukraine hoping to return home

 The number of Nepalese currently stranded in Ukraine is unknown. This has been a problem since the nation has been attacked by its neighboring country Russia on Thursday morning. For years, Nepalese students have been going to Ukraine, especially for medical education. Similarly, some go for work either in Ukraine itself or in Schengen countries.

Currently, the main cities holding Nepalese populations in Ukraine are Kiev, Lharkov and Odisha. Some of the Nepalese who arrived in Ukraine have been found to be illegal immigrants. According to Hari Malla, president of Ukraine-based Nonresident Association Nepal, there are about 200 Nepalese in Ukraine.

As the conflict in Ukraine escalates, some Nepalese, including students, want to return home. India, on Tuesday, repatriated Indian students studying in Ukraine. The Indian students were repatriated by three Air India flights on Tuesday. But the Nepalese Government has not yet decided when the Nepali living in Ukraine can be evacuated. Talking to NepalNews from Kiev, Ukraine, Jyoti Karki says, “As the situation here is getting dire, I am trying to move to another city however, there are no buses available and I have been waiting at the bus station since the morning.”

Ukraine is 5,028 kilometers away from Nepal. There is no direct air link from Ukraine to Nepal. You can reach Nepal in about 13 hours and 40 minutes from Odisha Airport, connected by two flights.

Diplomatic relations were established between Nepal and Ukraine in 1993. As there is no Ukrainian Embassy in Nepal, Nepalese wanting visas must approach the Ukrainian Embassy in New Delhi, India. Similarly, Ukraine, too, does not have a Nepalese Embassy within its borders. The Nepalese Embassy in Berlin, Germany also looks over Ukraine-Nepal documentations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, on the other hand, has requested the Nepalese residing in Ukraine to return home using the available airfare unless absolutely necessary. The ministry has also requested for any visit to Ukraine be postponed unless absolutely necessary. The Nepalese Embassy in Berlin, Germany has stated yesterday that it has contacts with more than 38 Nepalese citizens in Ukraine and that they are all safe.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal has assigned officials of the Nepalese embassies in Berlin, Germany and Moscow, Russia to contact the Nepalese living in Ukraine.

Are you in Ukraine and need help returning back to Nepal? Contact the Nepalese Embassy in Berlin or Moscow immediately!

Nepal Embassy in Berlin:
Sahara Chaulagain
Contact No: +491709808063
Email: eonberlin@mofa.gov.np

Nepal Embassy in Moscow:
Shushil Ghimire
Contact No: +79680702815
Email: eonmoscow@mofa.gov.np