Embassies hand over 19,000 travel docs

Abu Dhabi: More than 20,000 amnesty seekers approached the Asian embassies here and more than 19,000 travel documents had been issued as of last week, according to senior officials at the embassies.

The Bangladeshi Embassy issued about 2,000 outpasses and distributed around 5,000 passports as of last week, said Jamshed Minhaj Rahman, Second Secretary and Head of Chancery.

The Indian Embassy prepared 2,325 outpasses and distributed 4,165 passports, said a senior official. "About 400 applicants are yet to collect their outpasses," he said.

Some Indian amnesty seekers said they have been waiting for the exit passes for more than 10 days. "I submitted my application ... on August 10 but [I am] still waiting for the exit pass," said S.R., an illegal worker.

The Indonesian Embassy issued more than 500 outpasses and distributed more than 1,000 passports, said Abdi Satya Uttama, information officer.

The Pakistani Embassy issued 1,682 outpasses and distributed 652 passports so far, said Faisal Niaz Trimizi, First Secretary at the Embassy.

The Nepalese Embassy issued 1,135 outpasses, said Mohan Krishna Shrestha, Charge d'affaires.

The Sri Lankan Embassy issued 420 outpasses and distributed 401 passports out of 1,675 handed over by the UAE authorities, said Madurika Weninger, Counsellor and Head of Chancery.

About 1,135 applicants approached the Philippine Embassy so far, according to Adel Cruz, First Secretary. The embassy issued 255 outpasses and distributed 16 passports handed over by the UAE authorities.