South Asian workers in the Gulf face dangers from missile strikes, with deaths reported and economic fallout affecting families dependent on overseas income.
In the US-Israel war on Iran, missile attacks in Gulf countries have resulted in deaths among South Asian migrant workers, with at least eight fatalities reported in the United Arab Emirates, three in Oman, and two in Saudi Arabia, mostly from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
Kuna Khuntia, a 25-year-old Indian pipe fitter in Qatar, died of a heart attack reportedly triggered by nearby missile sounds, leaving his family in India's Odisha state with unpayable debts of 300,000 rupees taken for their daughters' marriages. His monthly remittances of about 15,000 rupees were their main financial support.
South Asia has nearly 21 million migrant workers in Gulf nations, making up a third of the region's population, with 9 million from India alone, followed by 5 million each from Pakistan and Bangladesh. These workers often hold blue-collar jobs in oil refineries, construction, and ports, which have been targeted in the attacks.
Impact on Workers and Families
Workers like Hamza, a Pakistani laborer in the UAE, witnessed drone strikes on oil facilities, fearing for their lives but unable to leave due to family dependencies. Many report living in distress, as job suspensions threaten their income amid potential economic downturns in the Gulf.
Remittances from the Gulf total $103 billion for South Asian countries, with India receiving $50 billion, Pakistan $38.3 billion, Bangladesh $13.5 billion, Sri Lanka $8 billion, and Nepal $5 billion. Experts, such as Imran Khan from the New Delhi Institute of Management, note that these funds are critical, but workers remain trapped by limited job opportunities back home.
The conflict has halted operations at key facilities, raising concerns about job losses and reduced remittances, which could devastate economies in South Asia where these inflows surpass some nations' GDPs, like Bahrain's.
