MANILA, Philippines – Cancelled flights due to explosions in Lebanon, as well as the late issuances of exit clearances, have delayed the repatriation process of Filipinos from the war-torn country, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Wednesday, October 2.
Over the weekend, Israel launched massive airstrikes towards Dahieh, a neighborhood near the Migrant Workers Office (MWO), or the DMW’s satellite office in Beirut. A total of 63 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were staying at the MWO.
All were reported safe and were transferred to a hotel in Beit Mery, a town overlooking Beirut, for temporary shelter at “much safer grounds.”
Aside from the 63 OFWs, there are also 16 non-OFWs temporarily housed in the rented Beit Mery facility.
Fifteen OFWs were supposed to leave on September 25, but weren’t able to go because of flight cancellations due to recent explosions. In this batch, three are set to go home on October 11, including one with a medical condition, while the remaining 12 will join another batch of 17 set to return to the Philippines on October 22.
The MWO is also still arranging the repatriation of an additional 63 OFWs with complete documentation and clearance to leave Lebanon.
Meanwhile, more than 100 OFWs still await clearance from Lebanon immigration authorities to leave the country. The DMW said that the delay is caused by explosions that forced some offices to close.
Like other repatriated OFWs from conflict zones, the incoming repatriates will be given financial aid among other forms of assistance once they arrive home, the DMW said.
“A contingency plan is also in place to ensure the welfare and safety of OFWs in Lebanon in any eventuality,” the DMW said.
As of writing, 430 OFWs and 28 dependents have been repatriated from Lebanon. The Philippine government has long been repatriating Filipinos in Lebanon, even as tensions were still brewing among Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group aligned with Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is at war with Israel.
As tensions escalated in August, the Department of Foreign Affairs urged Filipinos to leave Lebanon immediately while flights were still available.
Difficulties
Rights group Migrante International organized a virtual press conference with OFWs in Lebanon on Sunday, September 29. The workers lamented the difficulties in securing an exit clearance, since these were reportedly highly dependent on feedback from their employers who usually refused to let them go.
The hundreds of repatriates still comprise a minority of the 11,000 documented OFWs in Lebanon. In other conflict zones like Ukraine and Israel, Filipino workers have often opted to stay in their workplaces despite the risks.
“Kahit gaano kalaking ayuda ang ibigay ng DMW at OWWA, alam ng ating mga kababayang panandaliang ginhawa lang ang hatid nito. Pag ito’y naubos tiyak na gutom ang aabutin ng kanilang pamilya,” said Migrante Philippines chairperson Arman Hernando on September 24, commenting on how thousands of Filipinos stay in Lebanon amid conflict.
“Kahit anong ibukas na ‘livelihood program’ ng gobyerno, kung hindi nito kayang tumbasan ang halagang kinikita nila sa Lebanon ay mahirap para sa mga OFW na magdesisyong umuwi,” Hernando added.
(No matter how large the financial aid is from the DMW and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, our countrymen know that this will only be a short relief. If this runs out, their families will certainly go hungry. Even if the government opens “livelihood programs,” if these cannot give higher income than what they made in Lebanon, it will be difficult for them to decide to go home.)
Hernando said that while the government should be giving financial aid to the distressed OFWs, it should also focus on providing quality jobs that OFWs can return to.
On Tuesday, October 1, Israel launched its ground invasion in Lebanon. – Rappler.com