Around 10_000 Asian migrants die in the Gulf every year

Each year_ up to some 10_000 migrant workers from the south and south-east Asia die in the Gulf countries_ according to a report by a human rights organisation.

There are about 30 million migrants working in the Arab Gulf states  the UAE_ Bahrain_ Kuwait_ Oman_ Qatar_ and Saudi Arabia.

Many of the deaths are due to "natural causes" or "cardiac arrest"_ the report claims.
However_ the Gulf states are reportedly not conducting proper investigations to figure out why the number of deaths is so high each year.

The report_ Vital Signs: The deaths of migrants in the Gulf_ has been put together by NGOs from Bangladesh_ India_ Pakistan_ Nepal_ and the Philippines. FairSquare Projects_ a London-based migrant rights organisation_ also took part in compiling the report.

The workers are exposed to many risk factors_ including heat_ humidity_ air pollution_ abusive working conditions_ poor occupational health and safety practices_ psychosocial stress_ and hypertension.

The report suggests that long hours of manual labour in searing temperatures can result in heat stress and eventually can lead to organ damage.

Back in 2017_ Julhas Uddin_ a 37-year-old man from Bangladesh_ died in Saudi Arabia. His supervisor had instructed him to enter a sewerage line without an oxygen cylinder. On the official records_ it said that he passed away because his "heart and breathing stopped" and no further investigation was conducted_ reports The Guardian.

"Despite the Gulf states' practical dependence on their migrant workforces and the bolstering impact migrant worker remittances have on the economies of their homelands_ both origin and Gulf states have for too long paid inadequate attention to ensuring they return home in good health_" said Anurag Devkota_ a lawyer from Nepal's Law and Policy Forum for Social Justice. "As a result far too many do not return home at all_ or do so in coffins or body bags."

Despite facing criticism for worker exploitation_ the Gulf states continue to avoid structural labor reform and origin states have failed to ensure proper protection for their nationals abroad.

When asked for a comment_ none of the governments of the six Gulf countries responded.