THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Friday said that the government will give priority to those NRIs who are facing difficulties such as diseases, pregnancy and age-related issues. While participating in a channel discussion, the union minister also said that the expats will have to wait till May to return to India as it will be difficult for the authorities to set up quarantines centres immediately after the removal of the lockdown.

"The government is ready to allow the repatriation of Indians when the situation improves. We have already ensured the safety of those Indians who are stranded in Philipines and Moldova. We are also planning to set up Indian embassy's quarantine centres in the Gulf countries," Muraleedharan said.

Food and medicines will be supplied at the labour camps in foreign countries, he said. The minister also added that the government is also planning to supply necessary medicines to fight the coronavirus.