THE Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday said 27 more Filipinos were repatriated from Turkey, more than a month after a devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake flattened cities and killed more than 50,000 in that country and in neighboring Syria.
The repatriation was spearheaded by the Philippine Embassy in Ankara and the DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary of Migrant Workers’ Affairs.
“This is the third batch of Filipinos who were severely affected by the earthquake being assisted by the DFA in returning to the country,” the DFA said in a statement.
On March 8, 24 Filipinos comprising the second batch also arrived from Ankara. The first batch composed of 25 Filipinos arrived early this month.
DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo Jose de Vega said only 78 of the 102 Filipinos affected by the earthquake have remained in a shelter rented by the embassy in Ankara.
The DFA said the embassy is providing continued assistance to those who remain in the Ankara shelter.
“Filipinos opting to remain in Turkiye are likewise given assistance, including provisions for their extending their stay, as well as finding the appropriate housing and financial programs and other services offered by the Turkish government and non-government organizations so that they could rebuild their homes,” the DFA said.
It also said the department and the embassy remain “ready, willing, and able to assist Filipinos who were affected by the earthquake.”
“Any information for Filipinos needing assistance may be sent via telephone and WhatsApp (+905345772344), via email at ankara.pe@dfa.gov.ph, and via Facebook at www.facebook.com/PHin Turkey,” it added.
The DFA earlier said 248 Filipinos in Turkiye were affected by the earthquake while three were confirmed to have perished.
There were about 4,000 Filipinos living and working in Turkiye, mostly concentrated in Istanbul and the northwest part of the country.
