Manila, Philippines – Thirty-two-year-old Mary Ann De Vera from Basista, Pangsinan, started working as a caregiver in Israel in 2019.
Mary Anne is the first Filipina who died in the Iranian attack on Tel Aviv, which began after Israel and the United States launched its attack towards Tehran.
It is not yet certain when the remains of the OFW will be repatriated, as airports in Middle Eastern countries are still closed due to the conflicts.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier expressed his condolences to the bereaved relatives of the victim.
MASS REPATRIATION ON FILIPINOS IN MIDDLE, ‘NOT YET ON THE TABLE’ — DMW
Many Filipinos have already expressed their desire to be evacuated due to the continued attacks by Iran.
54 Filipinos from Israel have requested for repatriation.
800 Filipinos are in Iran, and some of the OFWs there have also requested to be evacuated.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said there is no change in the alert levels in the countries in the Middle East which were affected by the war.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said, they are not yet looking at the mass repatriation of Filipinos affected by the war in the Gulf nation.
Malacañang Palace confirmed that the president is continuously monitoring the situation amid the conflict in the Middle East.
The chief executive has also instructed government agencies to coordinate with embassies and provide appropriate assistance to Filipinos affected by the war in the Middle East.
FLIGHTS BOUND TO MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES WERE CANCELLED DUE TO CONFLICTS
The government has provided assistance to stranded Overseas Filipino Workers who were scheduled to go to the Middle East due to the cancellation of flights amid the ongoing war in the region.
There are 123 OFWs stranded in Hong Kong bound for Riyadh and Dubai, while 57 Abu-Dhabi bound OFWs were sent back to Manila because of the flight cancellations.—Alvin Pelobello, Eurotv News