Devendra Kumar Shrestha, 38, of Puranagaun, Manthali Municipality-9, Ramechhap, experienced the developing tensions between the US-Israel-Iran in the Middle East firsthand from Dubai. The shock of the conflict, which began on February 28, 2026, reached the city where he lived. Although there was no direct attack, the house where he lived was shaken by the vibrations of the explosions.

'When the bomb exploded, the house shook like an earthquake,' Shrestha recalled. 'There is not much damage in Dubai, but the noise and vibration spread fear.' Shrestha, who lives near Discovery Gardens in Dubai, was working at a five-star hotel in Jumeirah Village Circle. He was earning more than 80,000 rupees a month and planned to work there for another decade. But on the 12th day after the conflict began, he hurried back to his village out of love for his family. According to him, the misleading videos circulating on social media had increased the fear in his family. 'I was very worried at home after watching the videos on Facebook. The reality is not like that, but there is a lot of content that can cause fear,' he said.

Shrestha, who arrived in the village on March 11, is now enjoying himself with his family. His wife, three daughters, and parents, a family of seven, live in Puranagaun. His younger brother is still in Dubai. According to Shrestha, who is in regular contact with friends in Dubai, the hotel business has also been affected recently. 'Friends have said that hotel rooms are becoming empty and there are signs of a slowdown in business,' he said. 'I am getting advice that it is not a good idea to return immediately.'

The leave he has taken is ending on April 7, but the current situation has made him uncertain about his decision to return abroad. 'I do not feel like returning now. Let's think about it when the situation normalizes, otherwise I will do something in the village,' he said.

Shrestha is now planning to invest in the agricultural sector. 'I have saved a little by working abroad for two to four years, so I have decided to start something in the village. It is starting to feel better to do something in my own place than abroad,' he said.

Devendra's experience has also exposed the problem of information flow in the families of Nepali workers abroad. Family members in the village are worried after seeing unverified content on social media. 'Many young people from the village are in Dubai, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Here, families are more afraid after watching fake videos,' he said. Shrestha's experience shows that the psychological pressure created by the imbalance in the flow of information has become a bigger challenge than the direct impact of the war. He says that even though the conflict is far away, its impact has reached the families and kitchens of Nepali villages.

The news of the conflict between America, Israel and Iran worried not only her husband abroad, but also her family members in the village. Those days were very scary for Kalpana Shrestha, wife of Devendra of Puranagaun, Manthali Municipality-9. She was getting information about the war through radio and social media. But as the news increased, her anxiety also increased. 'There was only news of war everywhere,' Kalpana said. 'Since he was in Dubai, I was even more afraid.'

The videos and news seen on social media made her even more unstable. Although she was not sure what the real situation was, she was afraid that 'something would happen somewhere'. Other family members were also worried.

But when Devendra returned home on Falgun 10 at the urging of his family, that fear suddenly turned into relief. 'As soon as he arrived home, he felt reassured,' she said, 'I feel very happy now.' The Shrestha couple are now busy working in the fields in the village. Working together on daily tasks gives them both a sense of intimacy and security. Despite earning well abroad, the current unstable situation has changed Kalpana's thinking. 

'The earnings were good,' she said, 'but I don't feel like sending him abroad again until the situation normalizes.' Kalpana's experience shows how insecurity and anxiety can run deep even in Nepali families far from the direct effects of war. She says that the rapid flow of information and unverified content spread on social media have increased such psychological pressure.