MANILA: A total of 166 Filipinos are en route to Manila following their repatriation from the Middle East, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) on Wednesday (April 8).
The overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), along with their dependents, are set to arrive in the Philippines on Thursday at 11 a.m., OWWA said.
“166 OFWs and their dependents departed Kuwait for Saudi Arabia at 3 a.m.,” OWWA added.
According to the agency, this is the fifth batch of repatriated OFWs from Kuwait, with more returnees expected throughout the week.
Repatriated OFWs are also assisted upon arrival in the country. They receive welfare checks, food and temporary accommodation; medical, transportation and financial aid, as well as reintegration programmes.
The tensions in the Middle East prompted the repatriation of over 4,000 OFWs and around 900 non-working Filipinos in the region.
At around 8 a.m. on Wednesday (Philippine time), the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, more than a month since the strikes began on February 28.
The US and Israel jointly launched attacks on Iran, which responded by striking American bases across the Middle East.
OWWA expressed gratitude for the truce declarations, saying that “We hope this leads to sustained de-escalation and, ultimately, lasting peace.” - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
