PHILIPPINES: More than half of the Filipinos who asked the government for help amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East have already been repatriated or assisted, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Officials said 188 Filipinos have already received assistance out of the 327 requests recorded by the government as of March 10, showing that repatriation and support efforts are progressing even as tensions continue across the region.
The update was shared by DFA Assistant Secretary Ezzedin Tago during a joint hearing of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs on Wednesday.
“We are listing down the ones that are for tourists, pilgrims, and non OFWs. As of March 10, 188 have been repatriated or assisted out of the 327 requests,” Tago told lawmakers.
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Most Requests Came From the UAE
DFA data shows that the majority of assistance requests came from Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates, where many tourists and visitors were affected by travel disruptions and security concerns.
Of the 327 total requests, the breakdown includes:
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Dubai: 199 requests
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Abu Dhabi: 68 requests
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Lebanon: 40 requests
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Doha: 30 requests
Smaller numbers of assistance requests were also recorded from other locations in the region.
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Iran: 9
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Manama: 4
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Israel: 3
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Jordan: 2
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Baghdad: 2
Officials clarified that these cases involve tourists, pilgrims, and other Filipinos who are not classified as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Repatriation Efforts Continue
Authorities said the government continues to assist Filipinos who want to return home or move to safer areas as the situation in parts of the Middle East remains uncertain.
The repatriation operations include coordination between Philippine embassies and foreign posts across the region to arrange safe travel routes and provide necessary assistance to affected Filipinos.
The DFA earlier confirmed that a first batch of nine Filipinos from Iran has already returned to the Philippines through a coordinated evacuation effort involving Philippine embassies in Tehran and Ankara.
Large Filipino Population Still in the Region
Despite the assistance requests, the DFA noted that millions of Filipinos remain across the Middle East.
Government records show there are around:
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975,000 Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates
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813,000 in Saudi Arabia
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250,000 in Qatar
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31,000 in Israel
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About 800 in Iran
Officials said Philippine diplomatic missions continue to monitor developments closely and remain ready to provide support if more Filipinos seek assistance.
The DFA stressed that the government will continue coordinating repatriation and safety measures as the situation evolves.