Oman's Human Rights Commission ensures stranded citizens are repatriated

Muscat: Two reports on right of movement have been dealt with by Oman Human rights Commission (OHRC), in 2020.

OHRC's annual report said: "On May 7, 2020, OHRC received a notification from an Arab woman residing in the Sultanate with her children and separated from her husband. While she was on business travel outside the Sultanate, a travel ban was issued and the border ports were closed due to the pandemic (COVID 19)."

"This woman was stuck in a neighboring Gulf country for more than two months - away from her children residing in the Sultanate. In order for the family to be reunited, and to enable their children to obtain parental care, in accordance with the Child Law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, OHRC contacted Royal Oman Police, which allowed that woman to return to the Sultanate and reunite with her family. "

In another case, OHRC said, "On May 12, 2020, OHRC monitored an issue related to an Omani citizen in the Kingdom of Thailand requesting to return to the Sultanate. The Sultanate’s embassy in the Kingdom of Thailand confirmed that 49 citizens had been evacuated and returned to the Sultanate. The aforementioned citizen preferred to complete his treatment. Due to the closure of the airports during this period, the embassy will follow up on his treatment, and discuss the possibility of assisting him with the costs of treatment until resumption of flights to the Sultanate."

OHRC pointed out that: "In light of the implications of the COVID-19, OHRC has followed up on the Sultanate’s efforts to return citizens who were outside the Sultanate during the pandemic - whether on scholarships, or for various other reasons. OHRC has ensured that all means of healthcare are provided to the citizens and that precautionary measures are taken to preserve them and ensure their safety upon their return to the Sultanate at the end of the isolation period."

"The efforts made by the Supreme Committee to deal with developments of the coronavirus” in coordination and cooperation with the Foreign Ministry, the Sultanate’s embassies abroad, and Oman Air, the official carrier, have contributed to the repatriation of 3,784 citizens from different countries of the world. This shows the government's humanitarian care to its people," OHRC said.