The second phase of repatriation flights for Bhutanese in various countries will begin from April 18 says the Foreign Minister, Dr Tandi Dorji.
This would include flights, arranged for the first time to bring Bhutanese from the Middle East.
Flights to Dubai on April 18, Kuwait on April 19 and Qatar on April 21 will bring in 398 Bhutanese. Additional flights to the Middle East are also arranged from April 25 to 28.
For Bhutanese in India, the government will send flights to Bhubaneswar, Mumbai, Ahmadabad and Bangalore in India from April 20 to 26. 429 people are expected to come to Bhutan in these flights. They include students, army personnel, workers and monks.
“After we are done with the second phase, we would have brought home around 2000 Bhutanese. 632 Bhutanese will be left in India, ” said Dr Tandi Dorji ,“Out of them, 9 students and 43 workers want to come later. They could come after the lockdown in India is lifted. Since they are scattered in small numbers, it is difficult for us to bring them in a single flight.”
He added that 145 Bhutanese from Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Sikkim would be brought in through buses tomorrow.
Dr Tandi said 60 Bhutanese from Australia would fly in via Kaula Lumpur, 22 from Japan and 26 from Malaysia. Four Bhutanese in Singapore, and 5 in Philippines have also expressed interest to return. Dr Tandi said Bhutanese in America would be able to come back once lockdown in India ends next month.
48 students have voluntarily remained in Sri Lanka.
Samten Dolkar
