BCHR: Death toll continues to rise as aresult of migrant worker suicides

Within four months of the new year five migrant workers have committed suicide in Bahrain. The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights is shocked and dismayed at the news that Indian A shokan Vamoora ended his life by throwing himself off a pedestrian bridge over a busy highway in Manama. “While moves to modify the bridge may prevent such incidents from taking place in that specific location, it is by no means a comprehensive measure to deal with the problem,” BCHR vice president Nabeel Rajab said.

Within four months of the new year five migrant workers have committed suicide in Bahrain. The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights is shocked and dismayed at the news that Indian A shokan Vamoora ended his life by throwing himself off a pedestrian bridge over a busy highway in Manama. “While moves to modify the bridge may prevent such incidents from taking place in that specific location, it is by no means a comprehensive measure to deal with the problem,” BCHR vice president Nabeel Rajab said. “The reasons, conditions and situation which led to migrant workers in Bahrain taking their own lives should be investigated,” he added. “Bahrain needs to examine the terrible conditions that migrant workers live in here. “Financial difficulties, familial pressure, loneliness, alienation and miserable living conditions are often the problems that these people face. “Bahrainis, and embassy officials need to take responsibility for protecting the rights of these workers to ensure as much as possible that the expatriates who contribute so much to this country are livingin dignity and good health.” On January 3 an Indian man’s body was discovered after he hung himself from the ceiling fan in his Hoora apartment.On January 20 a 47-year-old Indian man died after throwing himself off the same pedestrian bridge.On January 21 a man’s body was discovered after he hung himself at the Commerce Towers in Manama.A 49-year-old Bangladeshi man was also reported as having committed suicide in February.