The Embassy of Nepal in the UAE has verified the death of a Nepali youth from Gorkha district during a drone interception operation at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport. The security situation in the Middle East remains tense following recent US-Israel attacks on Iran and subsequent retaliatory actions by Iran in Gulf countries hosting US military bases.
Diwas Shrestha, a 29-year-old security guard from Gorkha District working in Abu Dhabi, lost his life during the drone interception operation. The UAE Ministry of Defence reported casualties, including one Nepali, one Pakistani, and one Bangladeshi national killed in airstrikes, with 58 others sustaining minor injuries. The Embassy of Nepal expressed deep sorrow over Shrestha’s demise and offered condolences to his family, pledging to assist in repatriating his remains to Nepal.
Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that over 1.7 million Nepalis legally reside in 12 Middle Eastern countries, with the UAE hosting the largest Nepali population. Saudi Arabia and Qatar follow as hosts to significant numbers of Nepali nationals. The safety of Nepali migrants in Gulf nations is a growing concern due to the ongoing conflict, prompting Nepal’s government to closely monitor the situation and activate diplomatic missions for security facilitation.
