Yemen-based Houthi rebels struck another foreign ship carrying 23 Filipino seafarers in the Red Sea but the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed on Thursday, Aug 22, that they are all safe.
The seafarers were part of the 25-man crew of MT Sounion, a Greek-owned oil tanker, which went adrift after getting hit by missiles from Houthi rebels off the Yemeni port of Hodeidah last Aug. 21 (Philippine time).
“The Department of Migrant Workers confirms that all 23 Filipino crew members of MT Sounion have been successfully rescued from the ship and are now on their way to a safe port,” the DMW said.
The crew came from Iraq and was enroute to Greece when they were attacked by the Houthi rebels.
They were rescued by the French Navy at around 2:10 PM (PHT) on August 22.
The information was relayed to the DMW by Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain Anne Jalando-on Louis and Philippine Defense Attaché to Bahrain Captain Gacusan, and confirmed by Defense Attache to Abu Dhabi Captain Romeo Marana.
The DMW, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will assist in the repatriation of the Filipino seafarers.
They will be provided with psycho-social, financial, training and reintegration support by the DMW, OWWA, Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) upon their arrival in the country.