MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Wednesday deferred the scheduled repatriation of dozens of overseas Filipino workers in Lebanon as major airlines canceled outbound flights due to the recent explosions in its capital Beirut.
In a statement, the DMW said it is working are working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure the safe repatriation of OFWs caught amid escalating tensions in the Middle Eastern nation.
The agency said 15 OFWs were supposed to leave Lebanon on Sept. 25 but their flights were moved to a later date because of the recent explosion in Beirut.
The Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Beirut reported recent bombings over the weekend in Dahieh, near the MWO, wherein 63 OFWs are staying.
“All OFWs were safe from the recent attacks and were immediately transferred to a hotel in Beit Mery, Lebanon for temporary shelter at much safer grounds,” the DMW said.
“Three among the batch (one with a medical condition) are rescheduled to go home on October 11, 2024, while the remaining 12 OFWs will join the other 17 OFWs who are set for repatriation on October 22, 2024, barring unforeseen circumstances,” it added.
Moreover, the MWO-Beirut is also arranging the repatriation of an additional 63 OFWs with complete documentation and clearances to leave Lebanon.
The DMW said operations in some offices in Beirut have also been temporarily suspended due to the recent events, affecting the clearance processing of more than 100 OFWs who sought repatriation.
Israel has intensified its airstrikes across the northern border into Lebanon targeting the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
On Tuesday evening, Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel, which it said, was in response to the deadly attacks on Gaza and Lebanon and the recent killings of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leaders.
Tel Aviv vowed to respond to Tehran’s ballistic missiles.
The DMW assured that a contingency plan is also in place to ensure the welfare and safety of OFWs in Lebanon in case the tensions further escalate. (PNA)
