DFA: 21 Pinoys repatriated from Yemen

At least 21 more Filipinos heeded the Philippine government’s call to leave Yemen amid the political tensions there, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday. The latest batch of 21 Filipinos, including 13 women and nine men, arrived in Manila last Saturday, the DFA said in a statement. They were welcomed by representatives from the DFA and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. Last June 6, the DFA raised the crisis alert level in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, to “4," meaning mandatory evacuation and repatriation at the Philippine government’s expense. The DFA said that as of Tuesday, at least 178 Filipinos have availed of the voluntary repatriation program since it started on May 30. There are 1,422 Filipinos in Yemen registered in the embassy there. The DFA said the government started its repatriation efforts in Yemen on May 31, with 11 returning Filipinos, followed by June 3 (eight Filipinos), June 5 (11 Filipinos), June 7 (26 Filipinos), June 8 (45 Filipinos), June 9 (10 Filipinos), June 10 (seven Filipinos), June 14 (33 Filipinos), June 15 (two Filipinos), June 16 (one Filipino), and June 17 (three Filipinos). “Those who decide to remain said that their employers have a contingency plan for them. Some are committed to fulfill their contractual obligation with the employer, are willing to wait for their benefits or their travel papers from their employer, or are willing to stay to work as long as they are not in danger," the DFA said. The Philippine government told the Filipinos in Yemen to avail of its repatriation program and they should not wait until it is too late for them to leave the strife-torn country. Meanwhile, the DFA reiterated that labor deployment to Yemen is banned and Filipinos are not allowed to travel there. Filipinos in Yemen are also advised to immediately call the embassy teams in Sana’a and Aden if they feel unsafe in the area they are residing. They are also asked not to venture outside if they feel that their safety is at risk. — JE, GMA News