EIGHT Filipino crew members out of the 21 from the ill-fated MV Eternity C safely disembarked in the port city of Jizan in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.
However, 13 other Filipino seafarers remain unaccounted for, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
In a statement, the DMW said they continue to work on “accounting for” the 13 Filipino seafarers, who have been reported as either killed or missing.
The DMW said it has conducted home visits to the families of the 13 missing seafarers. “We assured them of fullest support and assistance.”
The MV Eternity C, a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, was attacked while traversing the Red Sea on July 7 by Iran-backed Houthi rebels using a drone boat and ballistic missiles, leaving at least four dead and 11 presumed missing.
The DFA said the eight rescued crew members are now under the care of the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, the Migrant Workers’ Office in Jeddah, and their manning agency.
“The rescued Filipino seafarers will undergo mandatory medical assessment before their scheduled repatriation in the coming days,” the DFA statement said.
The DFA also expressed gratitude to the Saudi Arabian government for “extending visa considerations to the Filipino seafarers on humanitarian grounds.
“We are working urgently to ensure the immediate repatriation of the Filipino seafarers,” said the DMW.
It said they are also working for the provision of all the necessary support services, including medical evaluations, psychosocial counseling, and the reissuance of travel documents.
“We are working around the clock with their manning agency and the shipping company to ensure they receive the care and support they need,” said the DMW.
