6,000 Filipinos in Saudi Arabia given aid amid Houthi attacks, says DMW

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Around 6,000 Filipinos in Saudi Arabia were given aid amid the ongoing attacks of the Houthi rebel group, including those who were affected by the bombing of an oil giant’s…

Around 6,000 Filipinos in Saudi Arabia were given aid amid the ongoing attacks of the Houthi rebel group, including those who were affected by the bombing of an oil giant’s building in Riyadh.

In a 24 Oras report from JP Soriano on Wednesday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Transport Workers Federation to help strengthen protection for Filipinos.

According to the DMW, they have assisted over 6,000 OFWs in Saudi Arabia amid the attacks. More than 4,000 of these are Filipinos working in airports.

“Sa Riyadh, sarado na three weeks yung airport. At nagbukas a week ago. Pero partial ang flights. Wala pang Riyadh-Manila flights. So tinutulungan natin yung mga airport workers na naantala ang trabaho. Ground crew, maintenance crew, duty-free, those working in coffee shops, concessionaires, even flight attendants,” DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said.

(In Riyadh, the airport has been closed for three weeks. It opened a week ago. But the flights are partial. There are still no Riyadh-Manila flights. So we are helping the airport workers whose job has been stalled. . Ground crew, maintenance crew, duty-free, those working in coffee shops, concessionaires, even flight attendants.)

Footage from the scene revealed how parts of a building were ravaged by an attempted attack. While no one was hurt, the incident occurred after two missiles from the Iran-aligned Houthis were interrupted.

A spokesperson of the Houthis said that they had six operations using many ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones.

The deputy governor of Riyadh has inspected the building and ordered authorities to give support to the company’s employees.

“Biglaan po siya. Tapos biglang nag-alert yung Civil Defense po ng Saudi Arabia po…Sobrang lakas po talaga. Parang bigla talaga yung palakas. Parang talaga siya, sir, bomba talaga siya,” Dan said.

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