Filipino repatriates from Syria reach 5,275

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 5,275 overseas Filipino workers have been repatriated from war-torn Syria as of Monday, after 26 Filipinos left the country to return to the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

Twenty-six Filipinos were the latest to arrive home under the Philippine government's Mandatory Repatriation Program. The repatriates arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on board Qatar Airways flight QR 936. Their airfare was shouldered by the Intenational Organization for Migration in Damascus, DFA said.

The state agency said out of the thousands of repatriates from Syria, 2,248 were repatriated via Lebanon through the combined efforts of the Philippine Embassies in Damascus and Beirut.

DFA said all Filipinos who are still in Syria should seek immediate repatriation by calling the Embassy in Damascus at 00963-11-6132626, 00963-949155557, and 00963-934957926 or by sending an email to [email protected].

The families of Filipinos in Syria may also provide the DFA with up-to-date information regarding their next-of-kin’s present location and contact details in Syria. Those who wish to do so may call the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs at (02) 834-3240 or 834-4583 or the DFA’s 24-hour Action Center at (02) 834-3333.