ABU DHABI // Low salaries and mounting debts are contributing to an increasing number of suicides in the Nepalese community.
Of the 43 Nepalis who have died this year in the 300,000 strong community, seven committed suicide. There were nine suicides last year and five in 2012.
“Due to the expansion of the community such incidents also go up but the mission takes steps to lower this number,” said Dhananjay Jha, the Nepalese ambassador.
The precise reasons for the suicides are not known, but some were found to be related to financial burdens, debts, stress and family disputes back home.
The Nepalese mission distributes leaflets and spreads information about community safety through its community members. It also recommended its government should provide pre-orientation information before their departure to the UAE, Mr Jha said.
Najibul Haque, a construction worker, earns Dh900 a month and paid 200,000 Nepalese rupees, about Dh7,500, for a UAE visa three years ago.
“I come from a poor family and borrowed from relatives to come here. It took one and a half years to repay the debts. I have to support my parents too,” he said.
Working in the hot weather is difficult and those who commit suicide do so mostly because of financial problems and disputes back home, Mr Haque said.
Suraj Pal earns Dh800 a month as a cleaner, and also paid for his visa by taking a loan from relatives.
“Cost of living is very high here and I didn’t know that when I landed here – I figured out it’s very expensive, half of my salary is spent here every month,” said Mr Pal, who lives in Mussaffah.
“When people come here they face the tremendous pressure of repayments and financing their families back home and when they fail to do so, they resort to ending their lives,” Mr Pal said.
anwar@thenational.ae
