IOM PROVIDES REPATRIATION ASSISTANCE TO FILIPINO NATIONALS IN SYRIA


A group of 263 Filipino nationals who were sheltering  in the compound of Philippines embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus have today returned to the Philippines , with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The group arrived at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport on an IOM chartered aircraft at 1000H today.

This group is one of several to return with IOM's assistance since the Philippine government requested the Organization’s help in evacuating its nationals stranded in Syria.

Upon the request of the Philippine government, IOM immediately explored various options to evacuate the stranded Filipinos.

The returnees were waived of exit clearance fees and allowed to depart Damascus.

They traveled by land onboard buses from the Philippine embassy shelter toDamascus international airport.

Since the conflict began in March 2011, the Philippine government has repatriated over 2,000 Filipino migrant workers from Syria.

There remains an estimated 5,000 Filipino migrant workers in Syria.

IOM is working in close coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs and embassies of the Philippines in Geneva (IOM Headquarters) and Damascus, as well as IOM offices in the region.

In coordination with other international aid agencies, IOM is also providing the migrants who cross the Syrian border to other neighbouring countries with medical assistance and Non-Food Item packages.

IOM has extensive experience in evacuating Filipinos and other foreign nationals from countries going through political and other crisis.

Last year, IOM assisted in the repatriation of Filipinos during the crisis in Egyptand Libya.

In 2006, IOM helped to repatriate about 3,600 Filipinos out of Lebanon.

IOM also assisted in the voluntary repatriation of thousands of Filipino migrant workers during the Gulf War in 1991.

IOM and the Government of the Philippines enjoy excellent relations and partnership in various international fora and in regional and global migration management initiatives.


For more information please contact Kent Madarcos at email:kmadarcos@iom.int or tel. no: +63 2 2301757.

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