Combating coronavirus: Anxious pregnant women in the UAE appeal to fly back their spouses

Pregnant women in the UAE are urging the concerned authorities to fly their husbands back to the UAE at the earliest possible opportunity.
Many have revealed that they need assistance due to their advanced stage of pregnancy and any delay due to the absence of their partners could imperil their and the unborn child's health.
The UAE suspended all international flights in March to contain the spread of Covid-19, but has permitted repatriation flights to operate.
Speaking to such estranged partners who are eagerly looking forward to reuniting with their spouses, particularly for the upcoming deliveries, many have reinstated their faith in the government and say they are hopeful of a solution.
Pregnant woman on high-risk wants to be reunited with husband
Indian expat Tupur Shewakramani is almost eight months pregnant now and is a "high-risk" case.
While her husband left for Lagos in Nigeria, for a Board meeting in early March -- little had the couple thought, that he would be stranded there, way beyond what they had imagined.
Tupur says, "I am getting into a panic mode now and I feel I am always on the edge. I have a condition, where I normally deliver much before my due dates. So, I can get contractions any time. I really need my spouse to be here by my side. It's not possible to manage so much in this state all by myself."
Juggling between household chores, her own hospital visits, her older one's distance learning schedules, Tupur was even compelled to withdraw her younger child out of online schooling.
She says, "it's just overwhelming. I have to sit for the distance learning classes with my seven-year-old and earlier I was doing it with my younger one as well. So I withdrew him altogether. I often have melt downs and I am struggling with all the innumerable errands that I am forced to address single handedly."
Many in advanced stages find daily tasks challenging
Faced with a similar situation, UAE resident Fatema is also fraught with difficulties as her husband Asgar is stuck in India.
In early March her husband went to drop her father-in-law to Kolkata, as a surgery, due to his limb infection, was gaining urgency.
Unable to accompany her husband Fatema stayed back, hoping her husband would return soon. She says, "I am already seven months pregnant and seek no outside help for any household work, as my immune system is already compromised and I am vulnerable. I find it difficult to do household chores and grocery shopping is particularly challenging in this state."
Fatema who will be a first-time mom is nervous like everyone else. But her situation brings in a host of new and other overbearing apprehensions.
"to be delivering for the first time without having your husband by your side makes me anxious. Under normal circumstances it would have been a smooth affair. But in the given situation, I have breakdowns and I am unable to gauge what I would do when the delivery date arrives and if my husband doesn't return by then."
Others hope for a safe delivery as partners remain estranged
Pakistani expat Asif Khan who is currently stuck in the USA is eagerly waiting to be reunited with his now seven-and-a- half-months old pregnant wife, who is living in Sharjah.
Asif who left the UAE on March 9, for Australia on a business meeting is getting increasingly worried due to the uncertainty looming around his situation.
He says, "I am desperate to return to my wife. She had a miscarriage once and it was heartbreaking. So we are really looking forward to welcoming our first baby this time. I really need to be around her in order to ensure that things are under control. But in the given situation I tend to panic a lot because she also sounds got dismayed over the phone."
Asif decided to travel to his sister's place in the US after limited flights from Australia opened to the region. With no flights from his destination to the UAE, he thought staying with his sibling may lift his spirits as he himself, was getting lonely and depressed.
"I was due to return to the UAE on 28 March, but flights were open to the US only, so now I am stranded here. My wife is in an advanced stage of her pregnancy and as a to-be dad it's a crucial phase in our lives. My wife needs my support and care especially around this time. I am optimistic that the authorities will consider our cases. Therefore, my appeal is to help me fly back to the UAE, that I call home."
nandini@khaleejtimes.com