The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has designated the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz as a “War Risk Operations Area,” urging Filipino seafarers to steer clear of the waterways as the security situation in the Middle East deteriorates.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, speaking on GMA’s “24 Oras” Weekend, said ship owners employing Filipino crews should not be directing vessels into the zone, and that Filipino seafarers retain the right to refuse such assignments.
“Filipino seafarers, particularly those under ship owners employing Filipino crews, are not expected to be in that area. Otherwise, our Filipino seafarers must be given the right to refuse sailing, and as much as possible, this part of the world should be avoided as it is currently extremely dangerous,” Cacdac said.
Separately, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that of the 113 Filipinos initially stranded in Jordan, 82 had departed Queen Alia International Airport in Amman as of March 7, traveling through transit points such as Cairo, Dubai, Mumbai, and Riyadh before catching connecting flights to Manila. The remaining 31 Filipino tourists in Amman continue to receive embassy assistance.
Repatriation flights have also brought 61 Filipinos from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, back to Manila on Sunday.
In Doha, Qatar, the Philippine Embassy confirmed that one Filipino national sustained minor injuries from intercepted missile shrapnel but is safe and recovering. Another 29 Filipinos in the country have moved to temporary shelters after evacuating residences near potential danger zones.
The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv, meanwhile, helped 35 Filipino pilgrims and tourists cross from Israel into Egypt and Jordan.
