Centre to bring back over 10,000 Indians facing 'food crisis' in Saudi Arabia

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday announced that she will send a minister to Saudi Arabia to try and bring back more than 10,000 Indian workers who are facing a "food crisis" because they are unable to afford meals after being laid off from their jobs.

Minister of State with the EAM, VK Singh, will travel to Saudi Arabia next week, while MJ Akbar, also an MoS with the EAM, will take up the issue with the authorities in the two Middle Eastern countries, saying the government was monitoring the situation on an hourly basis.

The Indian consulate and community in Saudi Arabia also distributed food on Saturday night among Indians who lost their job and were on the brink of starvation in the Kingdom.

The Twitter handle of the Consulate General of India, Jeddah (@CGIJeddah), posted photographs of food being distributed.

Indian Consulate in association with Indian Community Jeddah distributed 15,475 kgs of food stuff besides eggs,spices,salt etc n 1850 no 1/2

— India in Jeddah (@CGIJeddah) July 30, 2016

of food packets 2 Indians during last three days. Efforts r on to reach out to each n every Indian to help them overcome this crisis.

— India in Jeddah (@CGIJeddah) July 30, 2016

All 5 camps, Shumaisi, Sisten/Macrona,Sojex, Highway,Taif taken care wid supply of food materials. An effort of last four days succeeded wel

— India in Jeddah (@CGIJeddah) July 30, 2016

Happy 2 share more pics of Food distribution at Highway camp on July 30, 16.CG, Jeddah wid DCG/Consul(Haj) present 2 pic.twitter.com/WwkcJIsJJ4

— India in Jeddah (@CGIJeddah) July 31, 2016

Eventually on Sunday, the CGI declared that the food distribution mission had been completed.

Indian Consulate n Indian Community Jeddah food stuff distribution mission accomplished at 245 AM today morning. Kudos to all. @123nrs

— India in Jeddah (@CGIJeddah) July 31, 2016

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said on Saturday afternoon that around 10,000 Indians were unemployed and starving in Saudi Arabia.

Swaraj said the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia has been directed to serve food to them and that she was monitoring the situation on an hourly basis.

Her response came following a tweet by a man who said around 800 Indians are starving for the last three days in Jeddah and sought her intervention.

"We have asked @IndianEmbRiyadh to provide free ration to the unemployed Indian workers in Saudi Arabia," she tweeted.

Swaraj said a large number of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and that their employers have not paid wages and closed down their factories.

"As a result our brothers and sisters in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are facing extreme hardship," she said, adding while the situation in Kuwait is "manageable", matters are much "worse" in Saudi Arabia.

Later, Swaraj posted pictures of food being provided to the Indian workers.  

Low oil prices have forced the Saudi government to slash spending since last year, putting heavy pressure on the finances of local construction firms which rely on state contracts.

As a result, some companies have been struggling to pay foreign workers and have laid off tens of thousands, leaving many with no money for food let alone for tickets home.

Hundreds of foreign workers at construction firm Saudi Oger staged a public protest in Jeddah at the weekend to demand seven months of unpaid wages, Saudi Arabia's Arab News reported. They were dispersed by police after disrupting traffic.

Saudi Oger did not respond to a telephone call and an email seeking comment.

The Saudi government says it investigates any complaints of companies not paying wages and if necessary, obliges them to do so with fines and other penalties.