Many OFWs still in Syria — DFA

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said most of the 17,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Syria, many of whom are undocumented domestic workers, are not availing of government’s repatriation program from the conflict-ridden country.

According to a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, only 55 OFWs are scheduled for repatriation this week and in the last six months less than 300 have returned home, even as Syria has been classified under Alert Level 3–voluntary repatriation–last August 16.

Under Alert Level 3, Filipino nationals who work or live in Syria are encouraged to voluntarily avail of repatriation at government’s expense.

The DFA is set to increase efforts to seek OFWs and convince them to come home.

This week, investigators from the United Nations (UN) said young people are among the victims of Syrian security forces, who are accused of crimes against humanity, including the killing and torture of children.

For more information, see Philippine Daily Inquirer Thousands of OFWs won’t leave Syria, DFA laments.