73 Filipinos from UAE Reunite with Families through DFA

19 October 2019 – The Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department that never sleeps, continues to perform its mandate of protecting Filipinos overseas with 73 distressed Filipinos from the United Arab Emirates reunited with their families today.

"This is the third weekend that we witnessed repatriations from the UAE. We will not tire on our resolve to bring home our most vulnerable kababayan, especially our women. We stand ready to assist our OFWs anytime, anywhere," said Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola.

Fifty-five of the distressed Filipinos were from Abu Dhabi and 18 were from Dubai. The last two repatriations in as many weeks witnessed some 106 and 158 repatriates from the two Emirates. Since January 2019, more than 5,000 Filipinos have been repatriated from the UAE alone, costing the government over P135.34 million.

"We are at the front and center of this fight against human trafficking. We will persevere," added Undersecretary Arriola.

The DFA also brought home distressed Filipinos from Beirut and Kuwait during the course of the week. END

(DFA Photos by Ma. Vanessa Ubac)