DHIRAJ HARMALKAR
dhiraj@herald-goa.com
VASCO: Over 100 Goans stranded in UAE are trying hard to get back home. A Goan origin person, Sayed Imran, speaking for this group, said they want a direct flight from UAE to Goa and are awaiting some solution from the State government that will get them back home soon.
Imran first got in touch with Herald via email, stating that more than 100 Goans in the UAE have approached him on his Dubai WhatsApp number, which was specially meant to bring together Goans stranded and scattered throughout the Emirates.
He said Goans there are in desperate situations, and while he may be in contact with a few, the number of Goans registered with the Indian Embassy to exit from UAE is likely to be more.
Speaking of the situation at UAE, Imran said that the stranded Goans have been campaigning to get a direct flight straight to Goa, as due to the lockdown in India flying to other States could make getting home more uncertain and difficult.
He made a specific mention that Dabolim Airport was opened up for repatriation flights for foreign tourists stranded in Goa and that the government helped them in that situation, and therefore the government should also give the same help and consideration to stranded Goans and bring them home.
Later, when Herald contacted Imran, he said that many Goans in UAE have lost their jobs three months ago and some others more recently. Stranded Goans are finding it very difficult to manage their daily expenses without a job and income, he said.
Asked whether any Goans have been quarantined there, Imran said there are Goans who have been quarantined and are also slipping into depression.
He cited an example that recently a stranded Goan lady in UAE met him and told him that doctors have advised her to travel back to Goa before June, and if not then due to medical reasons she won’t be able to travel back and she will remain stranded in UAE.
Asked what are their demands, Imran said they want a direct flight from UAE to Goa. The reason for this is that the stranded Goans fear that they might get stranded in other States and they might be more vulnerable to infection outside Goa, as Goa is a green zone.
He pointed out that there is a repatriation plan from the Central Government for seven days and most of the destination airports are in highly infected cities. Goa, he said, is not yet included as a destination airport, even though it falls in the green belt and almost 3,000 Goans have registered with the State government portal to return to their homeland.
Imran anticipates the seriousness of the current situation of the Goans stranded in foreign land will be understood and considered by the State government.
