FOREIGN diplomats in Bahrain are working to fly some of their nationals back home as the crisis deepens amid the Covid-19 pandemic, writes the GDN's Raji Unnikrishnan.

In the last week, Egypt, Pakistan and Bangladesh have started flying out their nationals from Bahrain, while the Nepalese Embassy is making arrangements with authorities in Kathmandu.

The repatriated expats include the elderly, pregnant women, those on visit visas and pardoned inmates.

Bangladesh Embassy labour consul Shaikh Tahidul Islam told the GDN yesterday that 138 people out of 341 Bangladeshis who were awaiting deportation following a royal pardon have been flown back on a Gulf Air flight.

“More will be flown back in the coming days as Dhaka is planning and arranging facilities to quarantine these men,” he said.

“From the local community we haven’t seen a major demand to go home.”

Bangladesh has the second largest expat community in Bahrain, with 98 of its nationals tested positive for Covid-19 according to Health Ministry statistics.

A chartered Egypt Air flight also took back 170 Egyptians on Thursday, confirmed informed sources.

“The group included some elderly and pregnant women, while others were those on visit visas and those who expressed desire to go home after losing their jobs,” added source.

“The embassy is co-ordinating on more flights in the future.”

According to Health Ministry data, five Egyptians have so far tested positive for Covid-19, of which four have recovered and been discharged.

A Nepalese Embassy representative, meanwhile, said a large number of their nationals, including families, have requested support for repatriation.

“We are liaising with the home government on this, as we hope to charter flights in the coming days,” said the representative.

“Until last week we have had over 1, 000 people seeking assistance and we are looking into the priority.”

The more than 35,000-strong Bangladeshi community in Bahrain has 49 coronavirus positive cases as per Health Ministry data.

However, the Philippines Embassy has not received any mass requests from its nationals to return home, confirmed Ambassador Alfonso A Ver.

“Unlike in the other GCC countries, we have not had any major demand for repatriation from our nationals and hence no chartered flights are arranged for Bahrain,” he said.

“In the other countries we have Filipinos onboard cruise ships who are being evacuated.

“Here we are dealing with case by case, as and when the need arises, but to most of them we are saying not to travel now unless it is an emergency as they will have to be in quarantine in Manila even if they go now.”

He added that the mission along with the community are supporting Filipinos who are in need of food and other amenities.

Only one Filipino national has so far tested positive for Covid-19, while the envoy confirmed that the 39-year-old woman who arrived from Italy early last month has recovered and has expressed willingness to donate plasma for treatment.

Well-placed sources also revealed to the GDN that the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flew back close to 120 Pakistanis last week.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Club president Rehan Ahmed said a food drive is being conducted to help individuals and families financially affected by the crisis.

“Basic food items were provided to 200 families and 250 individuals directly before Ramadan, while Ramadan food packages were prepared and distributed to the 150 deserving families and individuals who have applied for assistance,” he said.

“We also gave away more than 400 face masks to raise awareness in protecting people from the coronavirus.”

There are so far 15 Pakistanis who have tested positive for Covid-19, of which two have been discharged, according to latest statistics from the Health Ministry.