MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / July 9, 2013) – A Filipino migrants’ rights group feared that more stranded Filipino workers, particularly the old and sick, in Saudi Arabia would succumb to illness if Manila will not immediately act to bring them back home.
Migrante, in a statement, said the Aquino government should act soon before it is too late. Just recently, a son of a Filipino worker had died while inside the Philippine consulate in Jeddah.
“More deaths could occur among the old and sick stranded overseas Filipino workers though they’re temporarily sheltered at the Philippine consulate in Jeddah,” said Migrante vice-chairperson John Leonard Monterona, who is also the group’s coordinator in the Middle East and North Africa.
“Our group is not praying for this to happen, but seriously we are re-issuing a warning for the Philippine government and its concerned agencies to fast track the repatriation of still thousands undocumented and stranded OFWs in Saudi,” he said.
Monterona, citing various reports from stranded OFWs in Jeddah, said a two-year old child also died sometime mid-June at the Philippine consulate shelter.
“There was also an old and sick woman who died last month at the consulate shelter in Jeddah, now totaling to 5 deaths, and 3 were already confirmed by the Philippine officials in Saudi Arabia, while 2 is yet to be confirmed,” he said.
“It seems that Philippine officials in Saudi Arabia want to keep this information only to themselves. We want this information investigated to prevent more deaths to occur again and what’s really Philippine officials in Saudi Arabia have been doing in providing on-site assistance especially to sick and old and toddlers who need medical care and attention.”
He there are 285 stranded OFWs, mostly women and some of them are pregnant, in the consulate shelter in Jeddah. And alongside the consulate building, some 1,800 other stranded OFWs are awaiting documentation and repatriation.
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