By Lamin Njie
Some Gambians in United Araba Emirates are struggling with food and shelter in the Arab nation.
At least 51 Gambians including 15 students have put forward their names to be repatriated due to hardship they are facing in UAE due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Muhammed Kambi the secretary general of the Gambian Association in UAE told The Fatu Network on Sunday 51 people including about 15 students have expressed interest in being repatriated.
“We have engaged the embassy in Dubai on the repatriation of Gambians. The minister of foreign affairs have actually responded but his response is not well appreciated,” Kambi said.
“His response was that Gambians are stuck in all parts of the world and if they start in one country, they will have to do it everywhere else too. But situations sometimes that look similar can also be different. Dubai is a different place and expensive.”
Another Gambian in Dubai told The Fatu Network: “We are suffering here. There are some who have not worked for the past four months and they cannot even afford to pay their house bills, rent and food. We need help from the government.”
Among the Gambians who want to return home are those that travelled to Dubai on business trips.
The foreign ministry reacting to claims of Gambians suffering in UAE said the government is concerned about the plight of Gambians abroad.
“With regards to these people in UAE, government doesn’t have the required resources as at now to evacuated them,” foreign ministry spokesman Saikou Ceesay said.
He added: “These are not the only Gambians stranded abroad. There are Gambians in Qatar, there are Gambians in Senegal, there are Gambian in Mali, there are Gambians in UK, there are Gambians in Libya, there are Gambians in almost all parts of the world who want to come [home].
“Even country who have bigger resources than The Gambia have not been able to evacuate all their citizens abroad.
“With regards to citizens abroad, the government through the ministry of foreign affairs is very much concerned about the plight of citizens abroad. It’s one of its top priorities.”
