63 Filipino repatriates arrive from Oman, Qatar

A fresh batch of Filipinos repatriated from Middle East countries amid the conflict arrived in the country, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

A total of 31 repatriates landed safely in Manila early Wednesday from Qatar.  They were welcomed by the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) officials.

Late Tuesday, 32 repatriates, mostly overseas Filipino workers, returned to the country from Oman.

Embassy officials, together with the DMW and OWWA, coordinated the safe evacuation of the Filipinos, including using cross-border exits and alternative airports, which remained open for international travel.

“Ang airspace sa bansang pinanggalingan nila ay very limited kaya naghanap ng paraan to cross the border sa isang bansa na makakalipad sila, and now, they’re here,” DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in a news release.

(The airspace where they came from was very limited, thus, we looked for ways to evacuate them safely such as through cross-border exits.)

Repatriations of Filipinos from countries in the Middle East are currently ongoing amid the tension in the region that stemmed from the United States and Israel’s attacks on Iran and Iran’s retaliation. —LDF, GMA Integrated News