Kathmandu, June 5 -- The government's plan to repatriate citizens from Covid-19-affected countries has finally gained momentum after it finalised the protocol to manage returnees after they land in Nepal.

Although the government finally decided to bring Nepalis home two months after the suspension of international flights, authorities have underestimated the number of people in need of immediate repatriation, labour and migration experts say. They warn that the plan will leave behind a majority of Nepalis, living in dire conditions and waiting to return home for months.

"There's a vast difference between the number of Nepalis, including migrant workers, wanting to return home and the figures the government is looking at," said Rameshwar...