MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has established a 24-hour hotline number for families and relatives of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in strife-torn countries in the Middle East.
“Those who have questions and concerns about the conditions of their relatives in Iraq and Libya can call the hotline numbers (02) 552-7105 / (02) 834-4685,” the DFA said in a statement Friday.
“Families may also send their queries by e-mail to oumwa@dfa.gov.ph,” it said.
Both countries are on the verge of civil war as armed groups remain beyond the control of authorities.
Government troops in Iraq, which was recently placed under crisis alert level 4 (mandatory evacuation phase), are battling the rebel group ISIS which has taken towns surrounding the capital city of Baghdad.
The United States (US) has deployed 275 troops to Baghdad to protect its embassy.
The northern autonomous region of Kurdistan remains under crisis alert level 1 because of the relatively peaceful situation there.
Majority of the 900 Filipinos in Iraq are in Kurdistan, the DFA said.
In Libya, armed groups, one of them led by a former army general, are fighting each other for control of the city of Benghazi.
The DFA previously raised crisis alert level 3 in Libya (voluntary repatriarion) due to the unrest.
Around 100 Filipinos in Libya have been brought home after they applied for repatriation.
For Filipino nationals in Libya who wish to volunteer for repatriation, they can contact the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli. The Embassy’s address is KM 7 Gargaresh Road, Abu Nawas, P.O. Box 12508, Tripoli. Filipinos can get in touch with the Embassy through the telephone numbers (00218) 918-244-208 / (00218) 911061166, and the e-mail addresses tripoli.pe@gmail.com; tripoli.pe@dfa.gov.ph.
The DFA urges all Filipino nationals in Iraq to contact the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad and register for repatriation. The Embassy’s address is Hay Al-Jamia, Mahalat 915, Zukak 22, House No. 4 and 4/1, Jadriyah, Baghdad, Iraq. OFWs can get in touch with the Embassy through the telephone number 00-964-7715807201, and the email addresses: baghdad.pe@dfa.gov.ph, pe.baghdad@gmail.com
RELATED STORIES
Crisis alert level 4 raised in Iraq, mandatory evacuation on
53 OFWs repatriated from Libya
Crisis-Alert-Level-DFA