Kin of stranded OFWs in Jeddah hold camp outside DFA



ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA – Relatives of overseas Filipino workers who remain stranded at the Philippine consulate in Jeddah trooped to the Deparment of Foreign Affairs (DFA) office in Pasay City on Monday to call for the speedy repatriation of their loved ones.
The relatives held a campout outside the DFA office, in an expression of their sympathy to the plight of the stranded OFWs who were forced to stay in makeshift tents outside the consulate following a crackdown by the Saudi government against illegal workers.
The group was calling for the speedy and government-shouldered repatriation for the stranded Filipinos.
Progressive party-list group Anakpawis, in a statement, scored the Aquino government for its supposed inaction on the situation of the stranded OFWs.
"While the president is busy campaigning for his LP bets, he is oblivious to the fate of OFWs stuck in Saudi Arabia," Anakpawis Vice-chair Fernando Hicap said.
"Despite the alarming situation of OFWs, there are no concrete actions as far as the process of repatriation and aid coming from the government. If weren't for the help of concerned groups giving food and medical assistance to the stranded OFWs, many will endure far more worse conditions."
Citing information from Migrante International, Anakpawis said more than half of the stranded OFWs are women, with about 50 of them sickly and old.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs Jesus Yabes arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Thursday to look into the situation of stranded OFWs camping beside the Philippine consulate.
Yabes accompanied by DFA Assistant Secretary for Middle East and African Affairs Petronila P. Garcia met with Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ezzedin Tago, Consul General Norman Uriel Garibay and other consulate staff to discuss issues concerning the stranded OFWs.
In an exclusive interview with the ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau right after the closed-door meeting, Yabes assured that the stranded OFWs will all be going home.
“But one thing is for sure is that, all of them will go home. All of them will go home. May mga iba nga lang may mauuna, may mga mahuhuli. Hindi naman sila puwedeng sabay-sabay. But rest assured that they will all go home,” he said.
There are about 2,000 OFWs camped beside the consulate. However, there are more than 3,000, including children, in the list submitted by the leaders in the camp site. There are also pregnant women and a newly-born baby among the stranded.
Yabes disclosed that the Philippine Government has started a dialogue with the Saudi Government since last week.
"We have also, since last week requested the Saudi Government to assist us in fast-tracking the repatriation of these people," he said. – with Dennis Datu, dzMM; and Charles Tabbu, ABS-CBN Middle East Bureau

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