After the war between Russia and Ukraine, more than 90 percent of the Nepalese who were residing in Ukraine have now reached Portugal. Most of the Nepalese have gone to Western Europe, mainly to Portugal, France and Spain.
As soon as Russia invaded Ukraine on the morning of February 24, Nepalese living in Ukraine went to different countries for security.
Ram Kaji Khadka, Nepal's Ambassador to Germany, who also maintains ties with Ukraine, said 480 Nepalese had been rescued from Poland, 99 from the Slovak Republic, 28 from Romania and 8 from Hungary. They are now in the safe zone.
Dr. Bodhraj Subedi, the founder of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Poland, says that Nepalese families who have been living in Ukraine for 30 years have come to Poland. He informed that out of 480 Nepalese who reached Poland, 90 percent have reached Portugal. There is a need for the Nepalese Government and/or Embassies to make the necessary documents easily available for the displaced Nepalese.
Similarly, assistance for their livelihood and employment is considered important.
Makar Hamal, Honorary Consul General of Portugal, informed that some of the Nepalese who have arrived in Portugal have already gotten employment opportunities. He clarified that efforts are being made to raise the morale of Nepalese who have reached Portugal feeling safe.
NRNA Portugal General Secretary Raj Kumar Thapa informed that many Nepalese from the conflict in Ukraine did not have passports and had filled forms and forwarded them to the Nepali Embassy in Paris. The Ambassador to France Deepak Adhikari had assisted in this process. However, with more than 400 people, it has been a challenge to find employment.
Nepalese student Abluri Bari Ansari, who was studying in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, has also arrived in Portugal. There were many students in Kharkiv, most of whom were studying medicine.
Makar Hamal, the unpaid Nepali Consul General for Lisbon, says any Nepali student can be given a certificate of nationality. He informed that talks would be held with the universities to resume the education of Nepali students.
Surendra Shrestha, President of the Hungary NRNA, who rescued the Nepalese who arrived in Hungary from Ukraine, said that arrangements have been made for the students studying medicine in Ukraine to study in Hungary and this facility has been provided to students from India and Bangladesh as well. He said that the government should make special arrangements so that the education of Nepali students studying in Ukraine does not deteriorate.
The border from Ukraine to the Slovak Republic is 600 kilometers. Jaya Prasad Shiwakoti, a Nepali businessman who has set an example by setting up his restaurant as a rescue center in the Slovak Republic on the border with Ukraine, said that the rescue center would continue for another month. The rescue center, which can accommodate about 100 people, benefited Nepalese as well as Indians, Bangladeshis and African citizens.
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