Abu Dhabi: Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have imposed restrictions for incoming travellers to contain spread of covid-19. India is also included in the list. Hence the resident expat Kannadigas who wish to return to their work in these two countries were travelling to UAE to stay there and meet the mandatory 16 days quarantine and proceed to these countries after the covid test. Due to the increase in cases, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait imposed entry restrictions through all routes from UAE also including Dubai. Hence thousands of them got stranded in The Emirates.
Responding to their pain and suffering, Dubai based Hemmeya UAE Kannadigaru team extended the possible humanitarian basic necessities through philanthropists. They launched Twitter campaign seeking the help and drawing attention of government of Karnataka, Chief Minister and Government of India to help these stranded travellers to get back to their homeland. The same were reported in the gulf news newspaper and has come to the attention of Indian embassy and Indian Consulate in Dubai.
Hemmeya UAE Kannadigaru met the honourable consul general of India, Dubai and submitted the request letter exposing the plight of these Kannadigas. President Mamatha Raghavendra, chief coordinator Rafiq Ali Kodagu and advisory board member Raghavendra appraised the situation. Responding to the request the consul general and team assured to issue free air ticket and related assistance enabling the stranded Kannadigas to return to Karnataka.
To the delight of the team the request was honoured by the Consular general office and free tickets were issued to the stranded passengers which were handed over to the Kannadigas at the airport by President Mamatha Raghavendra along with the presence of chief coordinator Rafiq Ali Kodagu, general secretary Senthil Bengaluru and chief coordinator women wing Mamatha Sharjah. They also thanked KMCC Dubai who were also part of the assistance. The returning Kannadigas bid an emotional farewell thanking the Indian Consulate, HUK Team and all those responsible for this humanitarian assistance.
