Minister of external affairs Sushma Swaraj tweeted confirmed on Sunday morning that 16,000 kilograms of food has been distributed to the Indian community in Saudi Arabia. There were over 10,000 people who were on the brink of starvation on losing their jobs.
Taking to Twitter like she usually does, Swaraj firstly corrected news reports saying the number of Indian workers facing a food crisis in Saudi is over 10,000, not 800 as is being reported.
The number of Indian workers facing food crisis in Saudi Arabia is over Ten Thousand. It is not 800 as is being reported. @JagranNews
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 30, 2016
She added that the newly-instated minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar is taking up the matter with Saudi authorities. VK Singh is also reaching Saudi Arabia to sort the matters.
My colleague @mjakbar is taking up this matter with Saudi authorities./3
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 30, 2016
My colleague @Gen_VKSingh is reaching Saudi Arabia to sort out all such matters. /2
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 30, 2016
Not only did she ask the Indian embassy to provide free food to unemployed workers in Saudi, she said she is monitoring the situation on an hourly basis.
I assure you that no Indian worker rendered unemployed in Saudi Arabia will go without food. I am monitoring this on hourly basis.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 30, 2016
Swaraj called on the 30 lakh-plus Indians in Saudi to help workers in distress.
I appeal to 30 lakhs Indians in Saudi Arabia. Please help your fellow brothers and sisters. /1
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 30, 2016
“There is nothing mightier than the collective will of Indian nation,” she tweeted.
Due to closing down of factories in Saudi as well as Kuwait, a large number of Indians have lost their jobs. They have not been paid wages and are unemployed. Food was distributed to them by the Indian Embassy on Sunday.
@Imran_khokhar84 @SushmaSwaraj @Gen_VKSingh @mjakbar @ajxtopcop @123nrs Food stff being delievred at Sisten/ Macrona pic.twitter.com/rAJhXsJZ8Z
— India in Jeddah (@CGIJeddah) July 30, 2016