Dear Sir,

I would like to thank HH the Emir, HE the Prime Minister and the Qatar government for their humanitarian initiative to simplify procedures for the repatriation of the bodies of expatriates who die in Qatar. (“Office opens for simplifying procedures to repatriate bodies”, Gulf Times, May 16). It is a great gesture on the part of the Qatar government towards expatriates who have played - and continue to play - a key role in the state’s development.
The Humanitarian Services Office, located near the Hamad General Hospital mortuary, will ease the procedures and all formalities could be completed within hours now.
A few weeks ago, I experienced procedural problems while trying to send  a body to India, giving me, already grief-stricken, great anguish.
One of my nearest relatives died at the Al Khor Hospital on a Saturday morning and I could take the body home only on Sunday night. I had to visit a number of offices to get the necessary documents.
Even though many social workers from different communities helped me, I could not send the body the same day because of the long procedures.
The family of the deceased back home were desperately waiting for the body to arrive for the funeral. Grieving, they waited almost two days in a daze and without food.
Still I thankfully recall the support I got from all government officials during those difficult days.
At some offices, even after the regular hours, Qatari officials waited patiently until I reached there to complete various formalities.
The support received from  Indian embassy officials needs to be mentioned here too. Some staff members went out of their way to help me.
I also would like to thank the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) and Abdul Salam Palakkad for their invaluable help.
With the opening of the new Humanitarian Services Office, all procedures could be done within hours.
I thank the authorities for making the office timing from 7am to 9pm around the week.
All the administrative fees for various certificates and other documents for repatriation or burial in the country have now been done away with.
I would like to use this opportunity to request Qatar Airways to transport and repatriate bodies free of charge.
It now costs around QR3,500 to send a body.
This would be a great gesture to the family of the deceased.

Basheer Purakkad, basheerpurakkad@gmail.com

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