India appeals for help for citizens in Saudi

India’s Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj has appealed to its three million citizens residing in Saudi Arabia to step up and assist unemployed compatriots with food supplies.

In a series of tweets, Swaraj confirmed that General VK Singh, her deputy, will soon be flying in to Saudi Arabia in a bid to resolve the issue.

The Indian Consulate in Jeddah has confirmed it is working with the community to distribute care packets, saying: “[The] Indian Consulate, in association with Indian Community Jeddah, distributed 15,475kgs of foodstuff besides eggs, spices, salt etc. and 1,850 number of food packets to Indians during last three days.

Swaraj said: “I assure you that no Indian rendered unemployed in Saudi Arabia will go without food. I am monitoring this on hourly basis.”

She followed this up with a message to the Indian community in the county, stating: “I appeal to 30 lakhs [3 million] Indians in Saudi Arabia. Please help your fellow brothers and sisters. There is nothing mightier than the collective will of Indian nation.”

Swaraj sent out the appeal adding that a ‘large number of Indians’ have lost jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait due to factories closing down, adding that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh has been ordered to provide free ration to those in need.

She continued: “My colleague General VK Singh will go to Saudi Arabia to sort out these matters and MJ Akbar will take up with Kuwait and Saudi authorities.”