Dubai: 18 Filipinos stranded at DXB repatriated home amid Israel-Iran conflict
The Philippine government has successfully repatriated 18 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were stranded at Dubai International Airport. They arrived on June 13 and were supposed to be on their way to work in Israel and Jordan but were stranded in Dubai due to the temporary shutdown of major airports amid the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.
Philippine labour attache John Rio Aceveda Bautista told Khaleej Times on Tuesday the OFWs arrived on Friday and were repatriated on June 15.
Fifteen of the repatriated OFWs were returning workers to Israel, while three were newly hired workers bound to Jordan. After arriving in Manila on Monday, they were temporarily housed at a hotel, according to the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
DMW secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said each OFW received Ph50,000 (Dh3,335) in financial assistance. 'This is not simply aid but a safety net as they have temporarily lost their source of income,' said Cacdac, adding the OFWs will also receive transportation allowance back to their respective home provinces.
Meanwhile, Eduardo de Vega, undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the security threat in Israel is classified by the Philippine government as under alert level 2, meaning there are heightened risks to safety and security.
'Mandatory repatriation is based on alert levels,' Cacdac noted. 'We are still coordinating with the DFA and DND (Department of National Defence) on this. But rest assured, we are ready if the situation worsens.'
Cacdac said there are about 30,000 OFWs – mostly employed in caregiving, agriculture, hospitality, and manufacturing – in Israel. 'It it is difficult to determine how many are in immediate danger without causing unnecessary alarm,' he added.
There are approximately more than 1,000 Filipinos in Iran. DFA said there are contingency plans for a possible evacuation route through Turkmenistan.
Philippine officials reminded OFWs to monitor official channels for updates and to follow local advisories.
After Israel launched strikes on Iran in Friday, several countries, including Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Israel have closed their airspaces for commercial flights. UAE-based airlines immediately announced that customers connecting through UAE with final destinations in Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon would not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice.
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