Covid-19: Voluntary organisation seeks repatriation of Keralites stranded in UAE

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coronavirus, covid-19, repatriation, kerala, KMCC
The international airport in Cochin, Kerala.

Dubai - India had banned all international flights from March 22 until April 14.

By Staff Reporter

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Published: Thu 9 Apr 2020, 4:04 PM

Last updated: Thu 9 Apr 2020, 6:07 PM

The Dubai Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC), an organisation for non-resident Indians from Kerala, has approached Kerala High Court seeking a special flight for Indians stranded in the UAE after the Covid-19 outbreak.

The legal move comes after the Indian government denied permission for chartered flights despite Emirates and flydubai expressing willingness to repatriate those who are stranded. India had banned all international flights from March 22 until April 14.

The petition filed by KMCC Dubai president Ibrahim Elattil, supreme court advocate Haris Beeran and Mohammad Shafi, urged the court that instructions must be given by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to provide exemptions in the international air travel ban to bring home those who are stranded in the UAE.

"Those who are returned could be kept in quarantine as per the World Health Organisation protocol," the petition, said.

The KMCC had already submitted similar requests to the Indian missions in the UAE, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The petition also mentioned that Air India had organised special flights to repatriate Canadian and German citizens to their home countries.

"There are many job seekers who reached the UAE on visit visa and struggling now without proper food and accommodation," said the petition.

Similarly, pregnant women who are unable to continue their medical treatment, those who have aged parents or family members without any relatives and other people with emergencies should be given an exemption, the petition added.

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com


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