Every week into the United States-Israeli warfare on Iran, and Iran’s assaults on its Gulf neighbours, Jaya Khuntia spoke – as he typically did – to his Doha-based son Kuna on the cellphone.
It was March 6, about 10pm, and Khuntia and the household have been nervous. “He advised me, ‘I’m secure right here, don’t fear,’” the daddy recalled from the dialog with Kuna.
It was the final time they spoke.
The subsequent day, the household in Naikanipalli village of India’s japanese Odisha state obtained a cellphone name from Kuna’s roommate telling them that the son had suffered a coronary heart assault after listening to the sound of missiles and particles from interceptions falling close to their residence. He collapsed and was later declared useless. Kuna’s physique reached house days later.
Al Jazeera can not independently affirm the reason for Kuna’s demise, however the household of the 25-year-old, who labored as a pipe fitter in Qatar’s capital, is amongst hundreds of thousands throughout South Asia straight affected by the warfare within the Center East.
Of the eight folks killed within the United Arab Emirates in Iranian assaults, two have been Emirati army personnel, a 3rd a Palestinian civilian, and the remaining 5 have been from South Asia: Three from Pakistan, and one every from Bangladesh and Nepal. All three folks killed in Oman have been from India. An Indian nationwide and a Bangladeshi nationwide are the one deaths in Saudi Arabia.
Migrant employees from South Asia whole almost 21 million folks within the Gulf nations, a 3rd of the whole inhabitants of the area. At stake, for his or her households again house, is the security of their family members and the way forward for their goals.
The Khuntia household had taken on a 300,000-rupee ($3200) debt in 2025 for the marriages of their two daughters. Kuna’s earnings in Doha – the place he had moved solely in late 2025 – of 35,000 rupees ($372) was serving to them accumulate what they wanted to pay again the mortgage. Kuna had been sending again about 15,000 rupees ($164) each month.
“We thought our struggling was lastly ending,” Jaya mentioned, his voice trembling. “My solely son would say, ‘Baba, don’t fear, I’m right here.’ He was our solely hope… our every thing.”
That hope is now extinguished. “That one name completed us,” Jaya cried. “He promised to return after clearing our money owed … however he got here again in a coffin. We’ve nothing left now. Shedding our solely son is the most important debt now we have to stay with.”
‘I assumed we might be subsequent’
In all, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE – the six Arab international locations within the Gulf – host 35 million international nationals, who kind a majority of their whole inhabitants, 62 million.
They embody 9 million folks from India, 5 million every from Pakistan and Bangladesh, 1.2 million from Nepal, and 650,000 from Sri Lanka. Most of them are engaged in blue-collar work, constructing or supporting the industries and providers which might be on the coronary heart of the Gulf’s success and prosperity.
However for the reason that US and Israel launched their warfare on Iran, these migrant employees have typically been among the many most susceptible. That vulnerability extends past deaths and accidents to the very nature of their work: Oil refineries, development areas, airports and docks, the place many work, have been focused in Iranian assaults.
The suspension of labor at many of those services, coupled with fears of a serious financial downturn within the area, has additionally left many employees and their households nervous about the way forward for their jobs.
Hamza*, a Pakistani migrant labourer working at an oil storage facility within the UAE, recalled a latest assault that he witnessed. “A drone struck a storage unit proper in entrance of us. We have been utterly shaken. Most of us there are from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
“We couldn’t sleep for nights after that. The drone was so shut that it may have killed us, too,” Hamza added. “For a second, I assumed we might be subsequent.”
Regardless of these risks, he mentioned, leaving just isn’t an possibility.
“We wish to return, however we are able to’t,” Hamza mentioned. “Our households rely upon us. It’s harmful right here, but when we cease working, they are going to don’t have anything to eat. We’ve no selection.”
Specialists say Hamza’s sentiment is frequent throughout South Asian blue-collar employees within the Gulf, due to poverty and restricted employment alternatives again house.
Imran Khan, a college member on the New Delhi Institute of Administration engaged on migration economics, mentioned migrant labourers from South Asia are sometimes pushed by desperation to take up jobs within the Center East. He mentioned Western international locations have, in recent times, dramatically raised entry boundaries for less-educated blue-collar international employees.
“These employees are the worst affected throughout crises – whether or not warfare or pure disasters,” he says. “I’ve been talking to a number of migrant labourers, notably Indians within the Center East, and lots of reside in misery for the reason that battle started.”
However, like Hamza, most can not afford to go away, Khan mentioned.
“They can’t merely stop. Their earnings would cease instantly, and there are very restricted alternatives again house,” he defined. “They’ve households to help, and with out these jobs, survival turns into tough.”
Households – and societies – that rely upon remittances
Center Jap international locations stay a key supply of remittances for South Asian nations similar to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. The remittances these 5 international locations obtain from the area, $103bn, are corresponding to Oman’s whole gross home product (GDP).
Simply the remittances that India receives from the Gulf, $50bn, are greater than Bahrain’s complete GDP. Pakistan receives $38.3bn in remittances, Bangladesh $13.5bn, Sri Lanka $8bn, and Nepal $5bn.
With the latest escalation of battle within the Center East, specialists warn these flows might be considerably affected, particularly if Gulf economies contract and layoffs comply with.
Faisal Abbas, an professional in worldwide economics and director on the Centre of Excellence on Inhabitants and Wellbeing Research, a Pakistan-based analysis institute, mentioned remittances from the Center East kind a vital financial spine for South Asian nations, not simply households.
“Remittances are a vital pillar for Pakistan and different South Asian economies, and a big share comes from Center Jap international locations,” he defined. “If the scenario worsens, it is not going to be a constructive improvement for the area.”
Pakistan’s remittances from the Gulf represent almost 10 % of its GDP, about $400bn.
Abbas added that the impact could lengthen past remittance flows. “Migration patterns may be disrupted. Many employees could return house, whereas these planning emigrate would possibly rethink,” he mentioned. “This might additional improve unemployment in a area already dealing with job shortages.”
In contrast to Hamza, quite a few South Asian employees are planning to return house.
Noor*, a migrant employee from Bangladesh employed at an oil facility in Saudi Arabia, mentioned he now not feels secure and plans to return house as soon as his contract ends.
“I’ll by no means come again right here once more,” he mentioned. “It’s too harmful. We will’t even sleep at night time. The concern by no means leaves us.”
Noor mentioned drone assaults had occurred near his office. “We noticed it occur in entrance of us,” he mentioned. “That concern stays with you… It doesn’t go away.”
His household, too, is deeply affected. “My youngsters cry each time they name me. They’re scared for my life,” he added.
He mentioned he is aware of that returning to Bangladesh would imply extra financial hardship for his household. However Noor mentioned he had made up his thoughts.
“I might reasonably return and wrestle to outlive with my household than stay right here in fixed concern,” he mentioned. “No less than there, I might be with them.”
*Some names have been modified on the request of employees who concern retribution from contractors for talking to the media.
