Concerns grew about Nepalis working in Qatar as Arab nations on Monday severed ties with the oil-rich nation, ratcheting up diplomatic tensions in the region. 

According to the latest data, nearly 400,000 Nepalis are currently working as migrant workers in Qatar.

“We are closely following the development. It’s too early to comment, but the crisis in the Gulf region is likely to have an impact on Nepali migrant workers,” said Rohan Gurung, general secretary of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies.

Arab nations including Saudi Arabia and Egypt announced on Monday that they were severing ties with Qatar and cut off land, sea and air routes to the energy-rich nation, accusing Doha of backing regional terror groups.

The diplomatic crisis in the region is likely to have an immediate impact on those Nepalis who work as heavy vehicle drivers, transporting goods to different parts of these Arab nations, according to Gurung.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said it was closely following the developments in the Gulf region.

“We are assessing the situation,” said MoFA Spokesperson Bharat Raj Poudyal. “We have asked our missions in Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt to send us updates on the impact the crisis may have on Nepali migrant workers,” added Poudyal.

Meanwhile, Etihad Airways said in a press release on Monday afternoon that it was cancelling its flights to and from Doha.