Missiles in Gulf Cause Widespread Financial Distress Among South Asian Families

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Iran’s Gulf Attacks Claim Lives of South Asian Migrant Workers

A week into the ongoing conflict between Iran and its Gulf neighbors, the families of migrant workers from South Asia are feeling the impact. According to reports, most of those killed in Iranian attacks on the region have been from South Asia.

Jaya Khuntia, a resident of India’s eastern Odisha state, spoke about his son Kuna, who worked as a pipe fitter in Qatar’s capital. On March 6, Kuna called his father to reassure him that he was safe, but their conversation ended abruptly when Kuna suffered a heart attack after hearing the sound of missiles and debris falling near their residence. He collapsed and was later declared dead.

Kuna’s death is part of a larger trend of fatalities among South Asian migrant workers in the Gulf region. In the United Arab Emirates, eight people were killed in Iranian attacks, including two Emirati military personnel, a Palestinian civilian, and five from South Asia: three from Pakistan, one each from Bangladesh and Nepal.

All three people killed in Oman were from India. The deaths of Indian nationals have left many families back home on edge. The Khuntia family had taken on a 300,000-rupee debt for the marriages of their two daughters, with Kuna’s income helping them collect what they needed to pay back the loan.

The Gulf region hosts nearly 35 million foreign nationals, who form a majority of its total population. Most of these workers are engaged in blue-collar work, building or supporting industries and services that drive the region’s success. However, since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran, these migrant workers have been among the most vulnerable.

Many workers have reported witnessing attacks on oil refineries, construction areas, airports, and docks, where they work. The suspension of work at many facilities has left workers and their families worried about the future of their jobs. Hamza, a Pakistani migrant laborer working in the UAE, recalled a recent attack that he witnessed. “A drone struck a storage unit right in front of us,” he said. “We were completely shaken.” Despite these dangers, many workers feel they cannot leave their jobs and return home.

The impact of the conflict on South Asian families is significant, with many facing uncertainty about the future of their loved ones and their own livelihoods.

Source: Al Jazeera