Hotline established for Pinoys in Najran, Saudi Arabia

Philippine officials in Saudi Arabia have established a hotline for overseas Filipino workers in Najran, in the wake of recent tension there.
 
The Philippine embassy in Saudi Arabia also said a composite team from the embassy in Riyadh and Consulate General in Jeddah had met with 300 Filipinos there last May 13.
 
It said Filipinos in Najran were reminded of the hotlines of the Philippine Consulate for Najran concerns:
 
  • Najran: 053 424 0362
  • Jeddah: 050 721 6307; 012 619 8478; 012 669 2589
 

OFWs in Najran between the Saudi Arabia and Yemen border pleaded last week with the Philippine government  to help them get repatriated as air strikes continue to hit the area.

Missiles hit the OFW's workplace last week, destroying trucks and buildings in the open-air compound and leading their employer to temporarily house them in a barracks.

The tension was due to the ongoing air strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The Saudi-led coalition earlier called on civilians to evacuate Saada in Northern Yemen before it unleashed 130 air strikes over the city, where Houthi rebels maintain a stronghold.

Meeting in Najran

Last week's meeting was led by Embassy Minister and Consul General Marshall Louis Alferez.
 
Members of the team included Vice Consul Rodney Jonas Sumague, Labor Attaché Jainal Rasul, Jr. and Welfare Officer Amelito Adel of the Philippine Consulate General.
 
The team met with some 100 male and female Filipino medical workers and service staff of the Najran Armed Forces Hospital at their temporary accommodations.
 
Another forum hosted by the Najran General Hospital was held for about 50 male workers from small- and medium-sized commercial establishments.
 
Alferez said the meeting allowed them to inform more Filipinos of the situation on the ground and answer their questions on their employment circumstances.
 
He also said they briefed the workers on the Philippine government’s alert level system and contingency planning.
 
"I believe the face-to-face dialogue managed to assuage many of their concerns, especially as Najran City has remained calm after three days of the ceasefire, and commercial activity and public services have not been disrupted,” he said.
 
Meanwhile, he said the Philippine Embassy and Philippine Consulate General continue to assess and prepare for any eventuality for the safety and security of OFWs in Najran.
 
He reminded Filipinos in Najran to fully cooperate at all times, while remaining calm and keeping informed.
 
"It is vital that Filipinos be armed with reliable information on the situation and not rely on hearsay and speculation, especially those circulating on social media,” he said. —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News

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