COVID-19: Kuwait government agencies urged to help 2,000 stranded fishermen return home
Delay will result in drop in output of fish and increase price, says Al Suwayyan
Cairo: Over 2,000 fishermen are stranded outside Kuwait due to travel restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus, a Kuwaiti unionist said today.
The stranded fishers are from Egypt and India, President of the Kuwaiti Federation of Fishermen Zahir Al Suwayyan added in a media statement.
Last month, Kuwait announced banning entry of passengers from 32 “high-risk” countries until further notice on instructions from Kuwaiti health authorities due to the global coronavirus pandemic.
The ban includes India, Pakistan, Egypt, and the Philippines that have large communities of expatriates in Kuwait.
“Fishing is considered a tough vocation that needs skilled labour, mostly outside the country,” Al Suwayyan said.
He urged the government agencies in Kuwait to allow the stranded fishermen to return in line with necessary health precautions.
“Delay in fishermen’s return will result in a drop in output and fish availability, thus sending prices to go up,” he said.