DFA repatriates nearly 40,000 Filipinos in November

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported that nearly 40,000 overseas Filipinos were repatriated in November due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

These repatriations included 34,312 from the Middle East, 3,310 from Asia and the Pacific, 2,316 from Europe, 10 from Africa, and nine from America.

The DFA organized three chartered flights to bring home 460 distressed Filipinos stranded in China, Saudi Arabia, and Timor Leste, with costs covered by the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.

Additionally, 21 Filipinos with serious illnesses were repatriated from various countries including Bahrain, Brunei, Canada, Italy, Kuwait, Laos, Oman, Pakistan, and Laos.

Nine Filipino seafarers were also brought home after their ship was abandoned at the Port of Djibouti, having been stranded for over 14 months.

Among those repatriated was a distressed overseas Filipino worker who won a rape case against a Kuwaiti policeman.

The DFA reiterates its commitment to bringing home overseas Filipinos despite facing challenges.