Families of distressed OFWs in Jeddah also suffer

Poor appetite, lack of sleep, deteriorating health and internal family issues are just some of the effects on families of stranded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Jeddah.

Without enough sleep and with puffy eyes, wives and relatives of stranded overseas Filipino workers faced the press on March 12 and asked the help of Migrante International on their loved ones’ problems in Jeddah.

Fenny, wife of OFW Juan Dagampat, told Bulatlat she is now taking anti-hypertensive medicine. “Parang laging mataas ang dugo ko siguro dahil depressed" she said. “Apektado talaga kami kakaisip sa kanila" (My blood pressure seems to be always high because I am depressed. We are really affected as we constantly worry about them.)

Another wife, Jenny could hardly speak as she cried hard while talking about husband OFW Marlon Ambil. “Isang beses lang kain nila…tinapay lang…kapiranggot… Nagkasipon pa siya" (They eat just once a day…only bread…just a small piece… Worse, he developed a cold), said Jenny, who was having a hard time talking while sobbing.

At midnight of March 12, Jenny was still awake after receiving text messages from her husband saying that he was among the 31 male OFWs being transferred to the Riyadh deportation facility.

What made the wives more worried was the condition the OFWs were in when they were transferred to Riyadh ¾ their feet and hands were cuffed.

“Dadalhin sila sa Riyadh, ‘di nila alam gagawin sa kanila. Baka kung anong gawin sa kanila tapos magdahilan na lang ‘yung pulis" (They would be brought to Riyadh and they don’t know what would be done to them. The Saudi police might do something bad to them and just cover it up.), said the wives who are almost at the point of paranoia.

The wives added that because of their situation in Jeddah, their husbands could not send enough money for their monthly expenses. Jenny asks for her sisters’ financial assistance. In Fenny’s case, she is “baon na sa utang" (already buried in debt), mostly due to bills like house rental.

Moreover, the wives added they are having difficulty explaining to their children what has been happening to their father.

“Sasabihin namin sa mga bata uuwi na sila..next week..tapos sa susunod na linggo ulit..’di naman natutuloy" lamented Fenny. “Sinungaling na nga daw ako" (We tell the children that their father will be back next week, then the next. They already think I am lying to them.)

Despite all the problems that come their way, their only wish is for their stranded loved ones to be reunited with them soon.

“Basta makauwi na lang sana sila" (We just hope they could come home), Jenny said. - Bulatlat

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