Over 1,300 Filipinos Repatriated as Middle East Conflict Escalates

More than 1,300 Filipinos stranded across the Middle East have returned home as regional tensions continue to escalate.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said a total of 1,315 Filipinos were repatriated from March 5 to March 14 under the government’s Bagong Pilipinas Repatriation Program. The group includes 1,022 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and 293 dependents.

Repatriation efforts ramp up

The repatriation drive comes as conflict in the Middle East intensifies following United States and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28.

The strikes reportedly killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with several senior officials, prompting Iran to retaliate with missile and drone attacks across parts of the Gulf.

Amid the escalating situation, Philippine authorities have been working to bring home Filipinos from areas considered high-risk.

More Filipinos arrive home

On Sunday alone, 384 Filipinos returned to the Philippines.

Of that number, 36 came from Qatar, while 348 arrived on a government-organized charter flight carrying passengers from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Officials said the flight was the second chartered trip arranged by the government to speed up the return of Filipinos affected by the regional crisis.

One Filipino confirmed dead

The Philippine government has confirmed the death of one Filipino during the conflict.

Mary Anne Velazquez de Vera, a caregiver working in Israel, was reportedly killed while helping her patient reach a bomb shelter during the attacks.

Millions of Filipinos in the Middle East

Data from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) estimates that around 2.4 million Filipinos currently live and work across the Middle East.

Most are based in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Authorities also noted that at least 86,000 Filipinos are currently in areas where crisis alert levels have been raised.

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said the government continues to prioritize the safe return of Filipinos from high-risk areas, particularly those with medical conditions and urgent humanitarian needs.