The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Sunday that 11 Filipinos were safely evacuated from Iran to Türkiye through coordinated efforts by the Philippine embassies in Tehran and Ankara amid the ongoing regional conflict.
In a statement, the DFA mentioned that the 11 Filipinos are expected to depart Türkiye for the Philippines in the coming days.
“Their evacuation was made possible through the swift disbursement of DFA’s Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) Fund, as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,” the statement read.
The DFA, through its posts in Iran and Türkiye, also reaffirmed its commitment to support the estimated 800 Filipinos currently residing in Iran who may wish to return to the Philippines.
“Filipinos seeking assistance are advised to contact the Embassy through the contact numbers and official channels posted on its website and social media pages,” it added.
Those transferred from Iran to Türkiye include one worker, students, dependents of students, and Filipino-Iranians.
The Department expressed gratitude to the governments of Türkiye and Iran for their assistance in ensuring the safe overseas passage of Filipinos.
Earlier, Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac announced that a seventh flight from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), carrying 37 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), is scheduled to arrive in the Philippines on Sunday night.
He mentioned that while the government is prioritizing repatriation from the UAE, preparations are also underway for land evacuation routes for Filipinos in other regions due to airspace restrictions.
As of now, six Emirates flights have brought home approximately 300 OFWs and 11 dependents, covering canceled trips since February 28.
Meanwhile, Philippine embassies in the Middle East remain alert to assist Filipino nationals. They advise those in affected areas to stay indoors or in safe places and avoid public spaces as long as the situation remains unstable.
According to records from the DFA, around 2 million Filipino workers are in the Middle East, and over 1,400 Filipinos have requested repatriation.
