By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Aug. 17 : The task force formed on Sunday to facilitate the operations to rescue Nepalis in Afghanistan has decided to enhance the use of social media with Nepali nationals stranded in the war-torn country and manage COVID-19 test and quarantine for the returnee migrants.

The first meeting of the task force led by the Coordinator of Middle Asia, West Asia and Africa Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has made a decision to request the concerned individuals and members of their families to inform about the people in Afghanistan.

The government has created an online registration portal at https://nepalconsular.gov.np/ and the concerned individuals or their families can update information in the portal.

The MoFA has urged the concerned people to immediately fill the required information. People can contact Department of Consular Services (DCS) at +977-9749326458, MoFA at +9779749326459 and Embassy of Nepal in India at +918929601925 on cell phone Viber and WhatsApp.

The meeting has also decided to request Nepali in Afghanistan to send the information about the latest safety and rescue works being carried on in Kabul.

Likewise, it decided to coordinate with the concerned agencies to manage COVID-19 test and quarantine facilities for the returnee migrants.

Earlier on Monday, Minister for Home Affairs Bal Krishna Khand directed the concerned agencies to facilitate the rescue of Nepali nationals stranded in Afghanistan. Spokesperson of the MoFA Sewa Lamsal said that the government has made diplomatic initiative to bring Nepalis home safely from Afghanistan.

As per the DCS portal, about 134 Nepalis in Afghanistan have registered their details by Monday evening.