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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Hundreds of stranded Filipinos arrive home on Christmas Eve--DFA

Hundreds of stranded Filipinos arrive home on Christmas Eve--DFA

Published Dec 26, 2021 03:33 pm

Close to 300 stranded overseas Filipinos came back home from Europe, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Christmas Eve, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

(Photo courtesy of DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola)

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola announced on Twitter on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, that a total of 277 stranded Filipinos arrived through the government's repatriation program on Dec. 24.

"On Christmas Eve, DFA welcomed the arrival 277 stranded Filipinos from Europe, Saudi Arabia and UAE via a chartered special repatriation sweeper flight. It is indeed a blessed Christmas!" Arriola said.

This came after a total of 354 distressed overseas Filipino workers from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia returned to the Philippines just in time for Christmas on Dec. 23.

“Knowing full well a Filipino’s yearning to be with their loved ones during Christmas, the government exerted its utmost to bring home our kababayan so that they could celebrate this season of cheer with their families,” Arriola said.

READ MORE: 354 stranded OFWs return home for Christmas from Saudi Arabia

The Foreign Affairs department has been encouraging overseas Filipinos to reach out to Philippine embassies in their areas if they want to be repatriated.

On Dec. 14, Arriola encouraged distressed overseas Filipinos in Europe to "contact our embassies the soonest in order for them to join in this repatriation flight."

She made the call amid the emergence of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in several European countries.

READ MORE: Filipinos in Europe urged to seek help from PH embassies for repatriation

Related Tags

Europe DFA OFWs SAUDI ARABIA UAE 12262
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