MALAPPURAM: For a large section of expatriates from Malabar in the Gulf, Ramadan is the time to come home to celebrate Eid. But, looming Nipah virus threat seems to have put a spanner in the works. Several of them, who hail from Kozhikode and Kannur districts, have postponed their travel to home.
“With state health authorities cautioning about a second wave of Nipah outbreak, Gulf countries continue to issue advisories against travelling to Kerala. This has left some expatriates worried and those from Kozhi-kode and Kannur districts have cancelled their plans to travel for Eid,” said Haneefa Moonniyur of Kerala Pravasi League.
Some of the Gulf countries including the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain have issued alert and asked citizens and expatriates to avoid travelling to Kerala. Health ministries in these countries have also released special directions to travellers. These countries have also imposed a ban on importing fruits and vegetables from the state.
“Expatriates fear that they will be unable to return one if they travel to Kerala, “ Haneefa added.Travel agents say some of the expatriates were abstaining from travelling even though there is no emergency here. “Expatriates are well aware of the situation here and they know there is nothing to fear. But, rumours and false campaigns have impacted their decision,” said a Kottakkal-based travel agent.
Meanwhile, travel agents and functionaries of expatriate organisations say Keralites expect the crisis will be solved before Eid and they will be able to come home. “There is no much panic among Malayalis in the GCC. Flight tickets for the days ahead of Eid have already been sold out. They expect they could celebrate Eid at home,” said Anwar Naha of Dubai Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC).