Large number of Indians in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had lost their jobs leaving them no money to buy food.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted, “Large number of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The employers have not paid wages closed down their factories. As a result our brothers and sisters in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are facing extreme hardship.”
She appealed to the three-million-strong Indian community in the country for help.She assured to take all the required steps so that all people get food.
I assure you that no Indian worker rendered unemployed in Saudi Arabia will go without food. I am monitoring this on hourly basis.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 30, 2016
The Indian consulate in Jeddah had distributed around 15,000kg (34,000lb) of food on Saturday alone, with the help of Indians there.
Happy 2 share more pics of Food distribution at Highway camp on July 30, 16.CG, Jeddah wid DCG/Consul(Haj) present 2 pic.twitter.com/WwkcJIsJJ4
— India in Jeddah (@CGIJeddah) July 31, 2016
Human Rights Watch had criticised Saudi Arabia, earlier for “rampant employer abuses of migrant workers, including forcing them to work against their will or on exploitative terms”.
A minister will arrange an airlift of laid-off Indians who were unable to afford the air fare for home. India has a past of evacuating nationals from Gulf countries, but this will be the first time an evacuation is triggered by economic crisis.
Officials leaving with direction to collect all necessary details of 2500+ Indians in different camps to speed up process of crisis mangmnt
— India in Jeddah (@CGIJeddah) July 31, 2016