Injured OFW in Kuwait airport blast now recovered — DMW

An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who suffered minor injuries from an explosion at an airport in Kuwait amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East has already recovered, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

"Mayroon tayong isa na minor injury. Wound ang natamo sa kaniyang leeg," Migrant Works Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac told dzBB Super Radyo on Wednesday.

(One OFW had a minor injury after sustaining neck wounds.)

"Fast food worker siya sa airport sa Kuwait pero released na siya sa ospital at okay na siya," Cacdac said.

(He is a fastfood worker in the airport in Kuwait. But he has already recovered and has been released from the hospital.)

On Tuesday, the DMW reported that an OFW was among those hurt in the Kuwait airport blast. This developed as tensions in the Middle East escalated over the weekend following joint military operations launched by the United States and Israel against Iran.

According to Cacdac, at least 1,000 OFWs, mostly in UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar, expressed intent to return to the Philippines, underscoring the previous figures provided by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. includes tourists and non-OFWs requesting repatriation.

"Puwede by land at 'yun ang mga bagay na sinusuri naming ngayon kung safe ang pagkakaroon ng option na ganon lalo na 'yung means of transport kailangan hindi makaka-attract ng so much attention in a sense na maging security risk ang transport vehicle. Ang pagpapaalam sa host country, mahalaga rin 'yun... and then, of course, 'yung kabilang country na pagtatawiran dapat alam din ang pagpapapasok," he said.

(We can repatriate them by land and we are now looking if this is safe, especially since we need to make sure the means of transport would not attract so much attention and become a security risk. It is also important that we inform both the host country and receiving country of our movements.)

"Those things are being arranged and in due time, we'll start moving people," he added.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. previously announced more than 1,000 Filipinos requested repatriation amid the conflict in the Middle East.

Marcos also urged all parties involved in the Middle East tensions to exercise restraint as he expressed hope for a swift ceasefire to end the hostilities. — VDV, GMA Integrated News