253 Filipinos repatriated from Kuwait

A humanitarian flight successfully brought home 253 Filipinos from Kuwait, including distressed domestic workers and former detainees, on Thursday, March 26, 2020.

The flight was arranged with the assistance of the Kuwaiti government and its flag carrier, Kuwait Airways, to allow Filipinos to return home amidst a lockdown and airport closure due to the COVID-19 threat.

Philippine Embassy officials expressed gratitude to Kuwait for their generous gesture, highlighting the strong friendship between the two nations.

Kuwaiti authorities expedited the repatriation process for the distressed Filipinos to minimize the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak in detention facilities and shelters.

The flight was rescheduled from March 21 to March 25, allowing for maximum capacity and the inclusion of more repatriates.

Among those repatriated were 179 distressed domestic workers, 39 former detainees, 34 walk-in clients from the Public Authority for Manpower with employment issues, and one infant.

Kuwait had implemented stringent measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, including a lockdown, closure of businesses and government offices, and a daily curfew.