DFA Brings Home 87 Distressed Filipinos from Middle East, Encourages Other Filipinos to Approach PH Embassies, Consulates for Assistance

MANILA 01 March 2020 – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) continues to bring home distressed Filipinos from Iraq, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of its mandate to provide assistance to Filipino nationals.

“The President said that he will bring all our kababayan home. And so we brought them home,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola said. “And for every other migrant Filipino who wishes to come home, we will bring them home no matter how difficult; no matter how dangerous; and no matter how challenging.”

On 26 February 2020, the DFA brought home three distressed Filipinos from Iraq, where a deployment ban is still in place.

The following day, another group of 62 Filipinos, composed of 45 adults and 17 minors, was brought home from Beirut as part of DFA’s continuing response to requests for repatriation amid the ongoing financial crisis in Lebanon.

On 28 February 2020, the DFA also brought home 14 Filipinos from Dubai, UAE who are all likely victims of human trafficking. Representatives of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) provided them with further assistance.

The DFA ended the month of February by welcoming another group of eight Filipinos from Lebanon, composed of six adults and two minors.

"Filipinos who wish to come home may simply contact the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate in their country to seek assistance and we will help," Undersecretary Arriola said. END