DMW working on repatriation of 3 OFWs killed in Kuwait fire

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is now working on the repatriation of the remains of the three overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who perished in a fire that engulfed a building in Kuwait on Wednesday.

“We are working on the return of the three fatalities and are in touch, based on presidential directive, with the families of all three OFW fatalities,” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac told reporters on the sidelines of the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

“We do not have a timeline yet, but I am confident that it may happen this week, very soon,” Cacdac said.

The DMW chief added that the agency is also in touch with the families of the two OFWs who are in critical condition.

“We are monitoring the situation of the two in the ICU; hopefully they will recover very soon,” he said.

The victims were part of a group of 11 OFWs, all working for the same Kuwaiti construction company housed in the building that caught fire.

Cacdac said the DMW is also arranging the repatriation of the remaining six OFWs, who are safe and unharmed.

“We are also giving them the option of continuing work in Kuwait because most of them were on duty when the incident happened, so they are not necessarily affected by the fire. They are far away from the incident,” he said.

According to Kuwaiti authorities, the fire started at about 4:30 a.m. on June 12 in the building serving as a housing and dormitory facility for foreign workers employed by the Kuwaiti construction company. The building is in al-Mangaf, a coastal city south of Kuwait City.

At least 49 people were killed in the fire, while scores were injured, the Kuwait Interior Ministry earlier reported.

Cacdac said financial assistance is ready for the 11 OFWs.

“There is financial assistance as directed by the President in line with the Action Fund of the DMW. The OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) also has financial assistance ready. They [OFWs] also have entitlements because they have life insurance,” he said.

“Their employer also provided the necessary assistance. We also coordinated with the Kuwaiti government. At the proper time, the Kuwaiti government will also announce the assistance from their side,” he added. —VBL, GMA Integrated News