Indian Ambassador Pavan Kapoor.

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

Indian Ambassador to the UAE Pavan Kapoor has said that the government of India will work closely with the UAE authorities to ensure that repatriation of Indians is done in a smooth and efficient manner. Although, he didn’t specify any time frame for the repatriation, he stressed that the priority will be given to those who need to go back earlier.

“I know many of you would like to return to India and I am sure there will be a time when this can happen. The government of India, once it decides that we are in a position to allow overseas Indian back in the country, we will work closely with the UAE authorities to ensure it’s done in a smooth and efficient manner. Of course, the priority will be given to those who need to go back earlier,” Kapoor said.

In a video message posted on Facebook, Ambassador Kapoor assured community members that the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi as well as the Consulate General of India in Dubai are here to work for them and to help them through these difficult times.

He also urged the UAE-based Indians not to panic amid the coronavirus pandemic and told them to reach out to the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General of India in Dubai if they need any assistance.

Praising the community members, he said that they have been very good following orders and advisories of the UAE government with the regards to the social distancing as well as the curfew norms.

“I know these are the difficult times, the virus is spreading, the numbers of infected people are increasing and so is the case of Indian nationals. I think there is no need to panic,” he added.

He appreciated the UAE authorities and all frontline health workers for their efforts in taking care of all residents of the UAE including the Indian nationals. Kapoor said that the Embassy is trying to work with the departments of health to help Indians who are living in clusters to move out of them if any of them is found positive so that the spread of the disease is controlled.

To help in terms of medical counselling, the Embassy has also created telephone helplines of Indian doctors.