DSWD extends aid to 2,500 OFWs affected by Middle East conflict

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided psychosocial and financial assistance to over 2,500 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG) said they assisted 2,110 repatriated individuals, mostly OFWs who sought government assistance to facilitate their return to the country.

“Agad na nagbigay ng psychosocial first aid (PFA) ang DSWD sa mga OFWs na bumalik sa ating bansa dahil sa tensyon sa Middle East. Bawat OFW na dumarating ay agad na ina-aassess ng mga social workers ng DSWD upang malaman kung ano pa ang mga interbensyon na kailangan nila,” Dumlao said on Monday.

(The DSWD immediately extended psychosocial first aid to the OFWs who returned to our country due to the tension in the Middle East. Each OFW was immediately assessed by DSWD social workers to find out what other interventions they need.)

The OFWs assisted by the DSWD arrived on flights from the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar.

The DSWD also provided psychosocial first aid to some 409 OFWs who were stranded at airports in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Ireland, Portugal, Iraq, and Oman due to travel restrictions amid the tension in the Gulf region.

The DSWD also gave over P1 million in financial assistance to 203 repatriated OFWs, and P300,000 in medical assistance to one OFW.

“Nagsimula na rin ang DSWD na magbigay ng livelihood assistance sa mga OFW na bumalik sa ating bansa. Base sa reports, may limang OFWs po ang nabigyan ng P20,000 each mula sa Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) para matulungan sila na magkaroon ng mapagkakakitaan. Patuloy po ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng aming mga Field Offices sa mga concerned government agencies para mabigyan din ng tulong ang iba pang mga dumating na OFWs,” Dumlao added.

(The DSWD also began providing livelihood assistance to OFWs to returned to our country. Based on reports, there are five OFWs who were given P20,000 cash from the Sustainable Livelihood Program to help them start their own livelihoods. Our field offices are also coordinating with concerned government agencies to extend help to other OFWs.) — JMA, GMA News