The Nepali Embassy in Tel Aviv has begun collecting details of Nepali citizens in Israel and Iran who wish to return home, as the conflict between the two countries continues to escalate.

“In view of the recent developments in Israel, the embassy has initiated the process of collecting information to facilitate rescue, repatriation and other necessary support for Nepali citizens,” the embassy said in a notice on Wednesday. “Interested individuals are requested to register.”

As many as 5,500 Nepali nationals live and work in Israel, which is considered a lucrative destination for foreign employment. According to Krishna Kumar Subedi, first secretary at the Nepali Embassy in Qatar, as many as 11 Nepalis are living and working in Iran, and five Nepalis are in jail.

As the Israel-Iran conflict escalates, the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security on Tuesday finalised a comprehensive plan to ensure the safety—and if necessary, the evacuation—of Nepali workers in the Middle East.

At an emergency meeting chaired by Krishna Hari Pushkar, labour secretary, officials from the ministries of foreign affairs, home, tourism, law, and parliamentary committees convened to assess risks and outline response strategies. The government resolved to deploy all available state mechanisms and resources to safeguard Nepalis in the Middle East countries.