14 Pinoy workers return from Syria
ourteen ilipinos from wartorn Syria arrived in the Philippines on riday, bringing to 4,567 the total number of repatriates.
The Philippine embassy in Damascus reported to the Department of oreign Affairs D A that the fresh batch of repatriates traveled to the Syrian- ebanese border and were assisted by the personnel of the embassy.
As in previous batches, the latest group was fetched at the asna a border crossing and was assisted with immigration formalities and other procedures both at the border and at the airport by representatives of the Philippine embassy in Beirut.
The repatriates arrived at the inoy A uino nternational Airport A A Terminal at 11 10 p.m. via Etihad Airways flight EY 428.
This is the 28th cross-border repatriation undertaken by the two embassies, which brought to 1,559 the total number of overseas ilipino workers O Ws from Syria who were repatriated through ebanon since the start of the cross-border operations in December 2012.
The embassy in Damascus is processing the repatriation of 45 other O Ws.
The D A on Wednesday e pressed concern about the security of O Ws in Syria as the United States announced it is ready to launch strikes following a suspected chemical attack near Damascus that reportedly killed more than 300 people.
US Defense Secretary huck Hagel warned that the military is “ready to go.
Amid the impending military strike on Syria, the D A continues to urge ilipinos who are still in Syria to seek immediate repatriation as the security situation in the Arab country continues to deteriorate.
Relatives of O Ws in Syria may provide the D A with upto-date information regarding their kin s present location and contact details in Syria. Those who wish to do so may call the Office of the Undersecretary for igrant Workers Affairs.
Sen. ynthia illar, meanwhile, called on the D A and the Department of abor and Employment to step up its evacuation and repatriation of ilipinos in Syria.
illar said that in spite of the continuous conflict in Syria, around 3,000 mostly ilipino women domestic workers are still in the Arab country.
She suggested that the D A could enlist the help of the nternational Red ross and the nternational Organization on igration while coordinating with the Syrian government to hasten the repatriation efforts.
She emphasized that the Philippine government is better off preparing for the worst scenario rather than being caught flat-footed if and when the US does push through with its military strike on Syria.
“We need to pay closer attention to what s going on in Syria and its effects on the rest of the iddle East where we have such a huge O W population. Once the air strikes begin, no one can really predict the outcome of such interventions, illar added.