Pinoys extend help to refugees in Kurdistan


By Maxxy Santiago, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau
Posted at 08/22/2014 11:12 AM | Updated as of 08/22/2014 11:12 AM
KUWAIT – Members of the Filipino community in Iraq have come together to provide assistance to refugees fleeing to Erbil in Kurdistan to escape the violence in Northern Iraq.
"Nandito po kami sa isang kampo ng mga refugees. Kami po ay bumuo ng isang grupo upang mamigay ng kaunting tulong," said Gil Rodeo, president of the Filipino Badminton Committee Iraq Chapter.
Rodeo's group and the Nagkakaisang Kapangpangan Group in Kurdistan banded together to help refugees.
"Kami po ay nagkakaisa bilang mga Pilipino at ipinakita ng mga Pilipino ang kanilang pananampalataya at pagmamahal sa kapwa," said Gerry Miranda of the Kapangpangan group.
The Filipinos' assistance eased some of the worries of refugees. Some of them appealed for immediate help from the international community so they could return home soon.
Even the religious community praised the Filipinos for extending help to the refugees.
"People of the Philippines, thank you very much! God bless you. Thank you!" said a Kurdish priest.
An estimated 1,000 Filipinos work in Kurdistan. The area remains under Alert Level 2.

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