The ongoing conflict between Iran and the Israeli-American combination has prompted the Kerala government to provide counseling services to expatriates and their families back home. The closure of airspace throughout West Asia and the subsequent partial reopening of some corridors brought some relief to emigrants. However, the warmongering on various platforms, including a section of the media that portrayed the crisis out of proportion, prompted the state government to extend counseling support to the overseas diaspora and their families in Kerala, according to government officials.
Speaking to The Hindu, Ajith Kolassery, CEO of NoRKA-Roots, a government agency working for the welfare of non-resident Keralites, said gun debris captured and neutralized by air defense systems of various GCC countries falling in residential areas remains a problem. However, the anxiety caused by the exaggerated portrayal of the crisis by sections of the media is causing greater distress to emigrants and their families, he added.
helpline numbers
With the support of the National Health Mission, the state government has now deployed counselors under the ‘Tele-Manas’ counseling service to provide assistance to the needy both through the NoRKA Help Desk and other platforms. Expatriate Keralites and their family members can access the services at +91-471-2430001 or toll-free number 14416 (for callers in India) which is available 24 hours a day. In addition, the agency has formed support groups in the Gulf countries to ensure assistance to expatriate Keralites, he said. In GCC countries alone, the number of Keralites is around 30-35 lakhs.
Meanwhile, the partial reopening of UAE airspace has provided significant relief to stranded transit passengers and those in need of emergency travel. Calicut International Airport handles approximately eight flights to and from West Asian cities, including Muscat, Riyadh and Jeddah. Thiruvananthapuram Airport also operated flights to Muscat and scheduled two flights, Oman Air and Air India Express, to Muscat on Friday. Air India Express has also announced that it will operate special flights from Ras Al Khaimah connecting Delhi, Kochi and Mumbai till March 7. Meanwhile, SpiceJet, which had scheduled special flights to Kozhikode and Kochi from Dubai on March 6, canceled the services due to airspace restrictions.
Published – 04 March 2026 21:00 IST
