Sri Lankan workers rendered homeless in Dubai due to COVID live in Park

Dozens of homeless Sri Lankan expats have become the latest to congregate in Satwa Park in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to the Telegraph, most of the Sri Lankan expats had arrived in the UAE on a 03- month visit visa. They had arrived in Dubai earlier this year to seek employment opportunities.

Some of the Sri Lankan expats among the group, who had been employed in Dubai, had reportedly lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic. This group of unemployed Sri Lankan expats has been sleeping at the Satwa Park for nearly 2- weeks.

A tearful Jemeela says she's been in the park for two weeks, after losing her job as a house maid. She said she's sick & wants to go home. It was incredibly difficult to understand her story, however, as she's Tamil and speaks no English – so none of us could translate much pic.twitter.com/Oa8eMSnb9l

— Ashleigh Stewart (@Ash_Stewart_) October 11, 2020

One Sri Lankan expat who was employed as an office boy for 05- years had lost his job in July. Another Sri Lankan Expat who was employed as a graphic designer had reportedly slept in the Park with two other men for 08- days.

He had renewed his tourist visa on two previous occasions, following which he had run out of money.

The Telegraph reported that more Sri Lankans have started turning up at the Park. The Dubai Police is making arrangements to transport the homeless to temporary accommodation camps, but are unable to accommodate all due to a lack of space.

A group of 21 homeless Sri Lankans were reportedly picked up from the Park in September.

Meanwhile, many of the homeless Sri Lankans have been further stranded after the Government of Sri Lanka temporarily suspended repatriation flights once again due to a new coronavirus outbreak.

They have become the latest blue collar workers in Dubai to have been left destitute with no job, visa, or money for a return flight home, as a result of the economic fallout of COVID-19.

Nearly, 9000 Sri Lankans have been repatriated since the initial COVID outbreak in march, while 6000 are yet to be repatriated.

The Sri Lanka Welfare Association is conducting necessary support, but is relying on public funds after their main source of income, an annual concert in march, was cancelled due to the pandemic. The Association is also unable to provide emergency accommodation as they do not have government approval. (NewsWire)

Dozens of Sri Lankan expats are the latest to congregate in a Satwa park. Most are on a 3-month visit visa and came to Dubai earlier this year to seek work. Some had jobs but lost them due to the pandemic.

Some have been sleeping in the park for as long as 2 weeks pic.twitter.com/1rXM91Ij9s

— Ashleigh Stewart (@Ash_Stewart_) October 11, 2020

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