More than 2M Filipinos affected by Middle East conflict

The ongoing four-week conflict in the Middle East began after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28 under “Operation Epic Fury.”

Since then, back-to-back attacks have been exchanged among the three countries, resulting in at least 3,000 deaths within a month.

Among the fatalities was Filipina caregiver Mary Ann De Vera, who was killed in an airstrike in Israel.

De Vera is just one of many Filipinos caught in the crossfire. But how many Filipinos are directly affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East?

According to data from GMA News Research, an estimated 2,443,700 Filipinos are residing in the Middle East as of March 2026.

Rounded figures provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs are as follows:

• United Arab Emirates: 975,000
• Saudi Arabia: 813,000
• Qatar: 250,000
• Kuwait: 211,000
• Bahrain: 56,000
• Oman: 49,000
• Jordan and Palestine: 41,600
• Israel: 31,000
• Lebanon: 14,000
• Iraq: 1,600
• Iran: 800
• Syria: 700

As of March 2026, repatriation efforts remain ongoing for Filipinos who wish to return home amid the conflict.

Most recently, 338 Filipinos were repatriated on March 29 via the Philippine government’s sixth chartered flight.

At least 19 more Filipinos were able to cross the Taba border crossing from Israel on the same day and are also expected to return to the Philippines.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said they are now seeing the “finish line” as the US–Israel–Iran conflict enters its fifth week, with “messages being exchanged” between Iran and the United States.—MCG, GMA News