THE government is preparing to repatriate an initial 200 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks following missile and drone attacks that disrupted flights from Riyadh, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced on Friday.
The DMW said the repatriation is being coordinated with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia to secure return tickets for OFWs who want to return home.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport has remained closed since the Oct. 10 attacks, preventing affected workers from returning to the Philippines.
Cacdac said more OFWs were seeking assistance as flight cancellations continued.
OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan reported that 149 OFWs had been processed and were ready for repatriation.
Another 50 OFWs from Riyadh, including stranded workers and those staying in shelters, are scheduled to return home next week.
The repatriation arrangements are being coordinated by Migrant Workers Offices in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar, in cooperation with Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Raymond Balatbat.
About 250 OFWs affected by the attacks, including stranded and injured workers, have received assistance from DMW and OWWA, according to the agency.
The assistance included food, temporary shelter, transportation, financial aid and on-site medical services.
Caunan said Philippine government offices in Saudi Arabia continued to assist workers awaiting repatriation.
OFWs and their families seeking assistance may contact the DMW-OWWA Hotline at 1348, or email owwacares@owwa.gov.ph.
