12-yr-old boy, 28 OFWs to arrive from Syria

Tuesday 19th of June 2012

DAMASCUS, Syria, June 19 -- The Philippine Embassy in Damascus is helping a 12-year-old boy live a normal life in the Philippines.

The boy, who was born in Syria to two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), sought the Embassy's assistance so he could continue his studies in the Philippines, away from the current turmoil in Syria, said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in a press release. He is among the 28 repatriates who will arrive in Manila this evening, June 19.

A total of 31 more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are due to arrive in the country tomorrow, June 20. Two others arrived in Manila last June 17.

The Embassy is sustaining its efforts to repatriate more Filipinos from Syria as violence continues in the country, DFA said.

DFA added that as of June 18, a total of 1,643 Filipinos have been repatriated since crisis alert level 4 was raised over Syria in December 2011.

The families of OFWs in Syria may provide the DFA's Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) with up-to-date information regarding their next-of-kin's whereabouts and their contact details in Syria by calling (02) 834-3245 or (02) 834-3240. (DFA)