KATHMANDU, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The Nepali government on Tuesday said it has formed an Emergency Response Team to address the concerns and ensure the safety of Nepalis residing in West Asia amid ongoing tensions.

The government said the mechanism is aimed at ensuring coordinated, prompt, and effective action. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, nearly 1.8 million Nepali nationals reside in West Asia.

An online system was also established to collect updated information on Nepali nationals in the affected region, the ministry said.

The United States and Israel on Saturday launched a large-scale joint attack on Iran. Iran subsequently carried out retaliatory strikes, targeting sites in Israel and U.S. military bases in the region. ■