KATHMANDU: The return of 38 Nepali citizens who died in various countries has been delayed due to ongoing tensions in West Asia and disrupted flights.

At a press briefing on Friday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri said irregular flights caused by the conflict between Israel, the United States, and Iran have made transporting the bodies difficult.

According to Chhetri, 17 bodies remain to be brought from Riyadh, 15 from Dubai, 5 from Jeddah, 4 from Abu Dhabi, 3 from Tel Aviv, 2 from Qatar, and 1 each from Oman and Bahrain.

He added that the government is working seriously to bring the bodies home and that the process has already begun.

The Ministry also reported that one Nepali has died and 21 have been injured in the ongoing West Asia conflict.

To collect information on Nepalis in distress and plan possible evacuations, 86,420 Nepalis have registered their details in the Consular Service Department’s online system.

Chhetri further noted that the number of Nepalis contacting the ministry to report being in unsafe conditions is gradually decreasing.

He also confirmed that arrangements have been completed for all Nepalis stranded in transit.

In Kuwait, two Nepalis who have obtained Saudi visas have chosen to remain in Kuwait temporarily, the ministry added.