Greater than 1,300 Filipinos repatriated as Center East tensions rise

Division of Migrant Employees Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac says the federal government prioritizes returning OFWs from high-risk areas, with medical wants, or dealing with pressing humanitarian considerations

MANILA, Philippines – Greater than 1,300 Filipinos stranded within the Center East have been safely repatriated as tensions and battle proceed to have an effect on components of the area.

The Division of Migrant Employees (DMW) reported on Sunday, March 15, that 1,022 abroad Filipino employees (OFWs) and 293 dependents — a complete of 1,315 — returned to the Philippines beneath the federal government’s Bagong Pilipinas Repatriation Program from March 5 to March 14.

The repatriations come amid a broader Center East battle that started with United States and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, which killed Iranian Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and different senior officers. Iran responded with widespread missile and drone assaults throughout the Gulf.

The Philippine authorities has confirmed one Filipino killed. Mary Anne Velazquez de Vera was a caregiver in Israel who died whereas reportedly helping her affected person to achieve a bomb shelter.

Information from the Division of International Affairs (DFA) reveals that there are an estimated 2.4 million Filipinos within the Center East, with the bulk concentrated in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. 

Not less than 86,000 are documented in areas the place various disaster alert ranges have been raised by the DFA.

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac mentioned the federal government prioritizes the protected return of OFWs from high-risk areas, these with medical situations, and others dealing with pressing humanitarian considerations.

On Sunday, no less than 384 extra Filipinos arrived within the Philippines, with 36 from Qatar and 348 through a chartered flight from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

The chartered flight was the second government-organized constitution flight beneath an motion plan geared toward accelerating the return and assist of OFWs affected by crises within the Center East. – Rappler.com