Metro Manila, Philippines – The first two government-chartered flights amid the Middle East conflict brought home over 700 Filipinos during the weekend.
The first flight arrived on Saturday, March 14, carrying 442 Filipinos from Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.
Some 342 Filipinos boarded the second flight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday morning, March 15.
The repatriates include overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dependents, as well as stranded tourists following airspace closures and flight disruptions over heightened tensions in the Middle East.
The Department of Migrant Workers said passengers of the second flight came from Al Khobar, Dammam, and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. They had to cross borders through land travel before coming back to the country.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration chief PY Caunan said many repatriates in the second group were distressed OFWs staying in government shelters who wanted to come home.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said more chartered flights are underway, with the government also processing exit clearances to the returning Filipinos.
The government assured assistance, including help in securing new work for repatriated Filipinos.
In a related development, 26 OFWs from Qatar also arrived in the country on Sunday morning. Caunan also reported the first batch of Filipino repatriates from Kuwait has crossed to Riyadh.
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As of March 14, over 1,000 OFWs have been safely flown back to the Philippines since the war broke out on Feb. 28.
The United States and Israel mounted joint attacks on Iran, prompting retaliatory strikes by Tehran targeting US bases on several Gulf countries.
US President Donald Trump this weekend threatened further strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub, while pressing allies to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Iran vowed to intensify its response, with no end to the conflict in sight.
The war has killed more than 2,000 people, mostly in Iran, according to reports from governments and state media. – with a report from Reuters
