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Over 190 Nepalese workers dead in Qatar

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The number of Nepalese construction workers who died building infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar last year has surpassed 190, a new report says.

The Guardian newspaper reports it has seen evidence of at least eight new cases, which brings the death toll to at least 193.

The revelations come against the backdrop of the Qatari government’s attempts to cover up the deaths.

Inhuman conditions for foreign workers in Qatar first came to light last September.

The deaths of at least 36 Nepalese construction workers were registered in the weeks following the September revelations.

The Nepalese make up almost a sixth of two million migrant workers suffering inhumane living and working conditions in Qatar. Migrants from other countries are also feared to have died, but there is no official data available.

Migrant workers in Qatar live in extremely inhumane and sordid conditions and they are deprived of any workplace security.

The 2013 death toll sets alarm bells ringing for FIFA as it shows that global protests against the treatment of migrant workers in Qatar have fallen on deaf ears.

The Pravasi Nepali Coordination Committee (PNCC), which follows up on migrant worker deaths in Qatar, has called on FIFA sponsors to reconsider their relationship with the football governing body.

“FIFA and the government of Qatar promised the world that they would take action to ensure the safety of workers building the stadiums and infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup. This horrendous roll call of the dead gives the lie to those reassurances,” said the PNCC.

Secretary General of Amnesty International Salil Shetty sharply criticized Qatar for the ruthless exploitation of foreign workers.

“Construction companies and the Qatari authorities alike are failing migrant workers. Employers in Qatar have displayed an appalling disregard for the basic human rights of migrant workers,” Shetty said.

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