Filipino worker injured in Yemen blast

A male Filipino worker was injured in an explosion in Yemen, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.

“He was taken to a hospital for treatment and subsequently released. He is now out of danger and is recuperating from his injuries,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said at a briefing.

No further details were provided by the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia, which has jurisdiction over Yemen, but said the incident occurred in Fajhateen district in capital Sana’a.

A Philippine team assisting in the evacuation of workers in Yemen, Jose said, is closely monitoring the Filipino’s condition.

“They will provide him with all the necessary assistance,” he said.

The latest incident highlights the dangers being faced by Filipino workers in the troubled Middle East state, which has been grappling with months of armed conflict.  

Manila is enforcing the mass evacuation of its workers in Yemen due to heightened security concerns.

Meanwhile, another group of 13 Filipinos who fled Yemen arrived in Manila Tuesday, bringing the total number of those who were brought home to 477.

Despite the ongoing conflict, less than 400 Filipinos still refuse to leave Yemen, citing lack of economic opportunities at home.

“With the security situation in Yemen remains volatile and dangerous, we hope that our people will prioritize their safety and take advantage of the Philippine government’s repatriation offer,” Jose said.

Manila has no diplomatic post in Yemen, but a Crisis Management Team deployed by the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia is currently on the ground in Sana’a and stands ready to assist Filipinos who wish to return home to the Philippines, Jose said. —KBK, GMA News

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