In this Sept. 8, 2017 photo, people walk near debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands. Britain has sent a navy ship and troops to help people on the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and the Turks and Caicos islands that were pummeled by the hurricane. (Gabi Gonzalez via AP)
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will charter a plane to fly at least 236 Filipinos out of the hurricane-hit Caribbean islands beginning Monday.
The Filipinos were stranded in the islands when Category 5 Hurricane Irma slammed into the popular tourist destinations last week.
Meanwhile the Philippine Embassy in the US reported that a Filipino in the Turks and Caicos suffered serious injuries after he fell while clearing debris at his workplace.
“There are now as many as 236 of our kababayans from various parts of the Caribbean who have asked to be repatriated. We assure them that we will bring all of them home,” Foreign Secretary Alan Cayetano said on Wednesday.
He said the country’s embassy in the US will charter an aircraft to bring the stranded Filipinos to Manila.
Cayetano said they expect to start the repatriation by Monday, September 18.
From Washington D.C., the Philippine Embassy sent two personnel to the British Virigin Islands and another team to the US Virgin Islands to deliver relief supplies to Filipino communities and to arrange the repatriation.
At least 160 to 180 Filipinos from the British Virgin Islands, 20 from the British territory of Anguilla, and 36 from St. Martin have reportedly asked to be brought home amid the massive destruction and food shortage.
Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Patrick Chuasoto reported that their personnel will arrange the repatriation from Tortola, the largest island in the British Virgin Islands. The team also distributed food vouchers to the Filipino community there.
Chuasoto said a second team is on their way to Saint Thomas in the US Virgin Islands to bring relief supplies to a group of Filipino teachers there.
Another team may be deployed to Anguilla where 20 Filipinos have asked to be repatriated.
The Philippine Embassy in the US is coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in The Hague for the repatriation of 36 Filipinos from St. Martin.