DMW: No deployment ban for OFWs going to Saudi Arabia

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Monday said there is no deployment ban in effect for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) heading to Saudi Arabia after the airport in Riyadh was attacked by the Houthi group based in Yemen.

"Wala naman tayong deployment ban sa ngayon," DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in an interview on Unang Balita.

(We don't have a deployment ban for now.)

"Of course, we're coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs for the security and political assessment but otherwise, wala tayong deployment ban sa ngayon (we don't have a deployment ban as of now)," he added.

With the attacks however, the airport was closed and some flights were canceled.

Cacdac advised departing Filipinos to check first if their flight will push through, before going to the airport.

On Saturday, the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was hit by projectiles launched by the Houthis. This resulted in 13 deaths and more than 300 wounded.

Four of the injured are Filipinos.

Cacdac said three of the injured Filipinos are still in the intensive care unit of hospitals, while one has already been discharged.

"Minamanmanan natin ang sitwasyon nila. Nasa mga ospital sila sa Riyadh. Kasama ang Migrant Workers Office, ang ating labor attaché, at ang team naman ni ating PY Caunan ng OWWA ay minamanmanan ang sitwasyon," he said.

(We are monitoring their situation. They are in hospitals in Riyadh. The Migrant Workers Office, labor attaché, and the team of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Patricia Yvonne "PY" Caunan are monitoring the situation.)

"Iba-iba ang estado ng kanilang sitwasyon kaya't pinagdarasal pa rin natin ang kanilang kaligtasan," Cacdac said of the three injured Filipinos.

(Their health condition are different from each other, so we continue to pray for their recovery.)

Two of the injured Filipinos work at the airport, while two others were passengers, he added.

Cacdac said they have gotten in touch with their families and assured them of government assistance.

Meanwhile, another attack on the same airport in Riyadh was launched by the Houthis on Sunday, killing one and injuring at least 11. —KG, GMA News