External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday said that more than 10,000 Indian workers are facing severe food crisis in Saudi Arabia. She appealed to the 30 lakhs Indians in the country to help their "fellow brothers and sisters", who are struggling with problems related to work and wages. The Union minister said there is nothing mightier than the collective will of the Indian nation, reported PTI. Hours later, members of the community an the Indian consulate in Jeddah pitched in and provided meals to all of them.

The Narendra Modi government has asked the Indian mission to provide food and assistance to the people in need. "We have asked @IndianEmbRiyadh to provide free ration to the unemployed Indian workers in Saudi Arabia," Swaraj said on Twitter, in reply to a man who said around 800 Indians were starving for the past three days in Jeddah.

According to the minister, Indian workers are facing various problems in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in connection to work and wages, but the situation is much worse in the former country. "The number of Indian workers facing food crisis in Saudi Arabia is over ten thousand. It is not 800 as is being reported," she confirmed.

Swaraj said Minister of State for External Affairs Gen VK Singh will soon travel to Saudi Arabia to take stock of the situation. Union Minister MJ Akbar will also speak to the Saudi authorities about the crisis faced by the Indians in the country. The Indian Consulate in Jeddah has distributed 15,475 kg of food and other necessary items so far. The Indian Community in Jeddah is working closely with the Consulate in providing relief.