The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Monday, March 11, that the Philippine Embassy in Cairo had already given $1,000 each as financial aid for the 11 Filipino crew of a Houthi-attacked ship.
DFA (File Photo/MANILA BULLETIN)
The Filipinos, including one with minor injuries but was cleared to fly, are scheduled to arrive tomorrow, March 12.
“Iyong sa DFA naman, inumpisahan namin--kami iyong on the ground eh, kasi nasa Djibouti sila. Iyong pinakamalapit na embassy ay iyong sa Cairo, nagbigay na ng tigwa-one thousand dollars as financial assistance (On the part of the DFA,--we have started, we are the ones on the ground in Djibouti. The nearest embassy in Cairo gave $1,000 each as financial assistance),” DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo De Vega said during the Bagong Pilipinas briefing.
“Mayroon pang dagdag na financial assistance pagdating niyan dito galing DMW-OWWA (There is additional financial assistance from DMW-OWWA when they arrive here),” he added.
The Department of Health (DOH) will also provide psychological counseling to the seafarers, the official shared.
De Vega also assured that the Philippine government is taking care of the Filipinos affected by the Houthi attack.
“Palaging nangyayari ito kapag may niri-repatriate tayo, sumasagot kami, tinutugon namin iyong instructions ng ating Pangulo. So titiyakin natin, kukumustahin ang kalagayan nila (This always happens when we repatriate, we shoulder, we respond to the instructions of the President. So we ensure their welfare),” he stressed.
Of the 15 Filipino crew, 10 were unharmed and three sustained injuries but one will be able to come home while the other two will remain in a hospital in Djibouti City after suffering from serious injuries.
Two Filipinos perished due to the March 6 attack on M/V True Confidence at the Gulf of Aden.
According to the DFA official, they have yet to retrieve the bodies of the two Filipinos who died as the ship is currently being towed to Oman.
De Vega also extended the government’s gratitude to the Indian government since the survivors of the attack were evacuated by its ship and brought to Djibouti City.
A report from the United States Central Command said that the Barbados-flagged bulk carrier M/V True Confidence was hit by a Houthi-launched anti-ship ballistic missile at around 11:30 a.m. on March 6 while in the Gulf of Aden.
True Confidence was carrying 20 crew members, including 15 Filipinos, when the missile struck it.