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PHL EMBASSIES IN BEIRUT AND DAMASCUS, TOGETHER WITH IOM, REPATRIATE 25 FILIPINO NATIONALS FROM SYRIA

17 September 2015 – With the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Philippine Embassies in Beirut, Lebanon and Damascus, Syria successfully repatriated to the Philippines a total of 25 Filipinos from Syria via Lebanon on September 15.

An Embassy team composed of Vice Consul Enrik Fort E. Revillas, Consular and ATN Section Head, and Mr. Junaid Ali, ATN/Legal Officer, traveled to the Masna’a border (Lebanon-Syria border), to receive the transiting 25 Filipino nationals and escort them all the way to the Rafik Hariri International Airport (RHIA) in Beirut where they boarded their flight to Manila. IOM personnel were also present to extend assistance. This group of repatriates arrived in Manila on September 16 (Wednesday) at 4:35 p.m. via Emirates Airline flight number EK332.

This is the 64th cross-border repatriation operation undertaken by the two Embassies since it started in December 2012.

The departure of the latest batch brings the total number to 2,650 Filipinos repatriated from Syria via Lebanon.

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PHL EMBASSY IN BEIRUT REPATRIATES 5 FILIPINO WORKERS FROM LEBANON

17 September 2015 – The Philippine Embassy in Beirut, with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and in coordination with the Lebanese General Security/Immigration, successfully repatriated to the Philippines on September 15, five Filipino workers from Lebanon.

The IOM provided the airfare of the repatriates, who are OFWs-in-distress sheltered at the Embassy’s Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Resource Center (MWOFRC). They arrived in Manila on September 16 (Wednesday) at 4:00 p.m. via Qatar Airways flight number QR932.

Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz, together with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) officials, bade the repatriates farewell and wished them a safe travel to the Philippines and a happy reunion with their respective families.

The Embassy’s Assistance-to-Nationals Section, along with the POLO and OWWA will continue to facilitate the repatriation of the other OFWs sheltered at the Embassy.