50-year-old Manasara Dhungana's mobile phone is constantly in her hands. As she sits in the courtyard of her house in Mangalsen Municipality-5, Achham, the radio and Facebook news hits her ears with a heart-stopping thud. The latest events in West Asia have made Manasara lose her appetite. 

Her 24-year-old son Deepraj Dhungana is currently in Dubai's 'Expo Twenty Twenty DIP One' area. He works as a coffee maker in a company there. However, the news of the war has not allowed her mother in Achham to sleep all night. 'My heart is pounding with fear of what will happen to my son,' says Manasara. 'My heart cannot rest until I talk to my son every time. I feel scared when my mobile rings.'

Of the three children of Manasara and Bhimraj Dhungana, the youngest son died three years ago. The eldest son, Deepraj, had gone to Dubai. Her daughter is working in the Nepali Army. Deepraj, who was the family's confidant, is in a state of panic in the village after his family was killed in a war in Dubai. Videos of missile strikes and other unconfirmed rumors on social media have been adding to Manasara's stress. "We will earn money later, I want my son back home no matter what. We don't care about money, our son's life is dear to us," she said.

The Dhungana couple have not been able to live peacefully at home for a few days. Even when their son says on the phone, "Mom, I am safe, nothing has happened here," they do not believe it. Deepraj says that the risk of missile attacks is high at the 'American military base camp' and that the place where he lives is still safe. He said that there is confusion and fear due to the rumors of missiles and drones. "The situation is still scary. There is no way to tell what will happen suddenly," Deepraj said. He said that the Nepal government is not even aware of any coordination to rescue its citizens and bring them home. "We are in panic after the attack on Dubai International Airport Terminal 2. Many companies have laid off workers,' he said, 'We live in constant fear that anything could happen.'

'Even if we hear the sound of a missile exploding, we are all safe inside' After the news of tension in the Gulf due to the conflict between the US-Israel and Iran, Yashoda Sharma of Baglung Municipality-7 called her husband Ram Prasad, who works in Dubai, to ask him how he was. She is relieved after the news that there was no problem like the news that came to Nepal. The news that came on social media had increased the tension among the family members. But after receiving information through a video call that everything on social media was not true, Sharma's family members breathed a sigh of relief.

 'Initially, we were shocked, but now we are happy to see that he is safe,' Sharma said, 'There was also a puja at home, I think he would have come no matter what. But he could not come because the plane did not operate.' Sharma said in the video call that all Nepalis are safe in Dubai. Even in an interview with Kantipur, he said that the rumors were not true. 

He said that although there was some tension due to the attack in the neighboring country, there was no physical damage. ‘The sound of a bomb exploding is heard from time to time, but all the items that come here are disposed of,’ Sharma said, ‘We are also doing regular work.’ He said that the government has called on people not to walk in open areas and the Nepali embassy has also asked them to report any inconvenience immediately.

He said that those working in Qatar and Dubai, in particular, did not face any problems because their internal security systems are strong. He said that there were no accidents because those countries have developed technology to neutralize missiles. On the contrary, Sharma said that the governments of those countries have banned open movement and even provided food and beverage supplies easily.

Santosh Chhetri, who has been working in Qatar, said that everyone was safe because security arrangements were made within. ‘The government here has made and implemented special rules, and there is no problem if you follow those rules,’ said Chhetri, ‘there is no problem if you do not go out unnecessarily.’ He said that the government has urged people not to go to the roofs of tall buildings or open windows to look outside. ‘Last week, there was a sound of bomb explosions all night, but now we do not have to hear it,’ said Chhetri, ‘for families in the village, a missile explosion seems new and terrifying, but the security arrangements here have made it normal.’ 

The Nepali Embassy has also issued a notice to Nepalis to inform them in case of trouble. He said that most of the workers are working regularly as every company in Qatar has asked them to stay indoors. He informed that since construction work outside has been stopped, workers in such areas are also staying indoors for food and shelter. ‘Those who came on visit visas have automatically been extended, and a government notice has been issued with a provision that they will not be charged any fees,’ said Chhetri, ‘since there are no workers working without a work permit, the state has provided all security.’