The Philippine government has repatriated 30 Filipinos from Haiti, which is gripped by ongoing civil unrest and violence in recent months.
In a statement, the Philippine Embassy in Washington, which has jurisdiction over the Carribean state, said the Filipinos, composed of nine minors and 21 adults, will arrive in Manila in two batches on January 16.
The embassy said the Filipinos sought evacuation because of the unstable economic and security situations in the country, caused by continuous social disturbance, crime, and kidnapping.
Since September, more than nearly 50 have been killed and dozens injured in anti-government mass demonstrations in capital Port-au-Prince and other major cities.
Protesters were calling for the ouster of President Jovenel Moïse, blaming him for high inflation and fuel shortages and for not addressing corruption in government. Moïse vowed not to step down.
Following an appeal from the Filipinos to move out of Haiti, the embassy sent a consular team led by Deputy Chief of Mission Renato Villa and Assistance-to-Nationals Officer Ryan Dasal to facilitate their return to Manila.
The latest evacuation highlights the risks faced by hundreds of thousands of Filipinos working in conflict-torn areas, particularly in some countries in the Middle East and Africa.
“Ensuring the safety and well-being of our overseas Filipinos remain a top priority of the Philippine government,” Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said.
The embassy said financial assistance was provided to the displaced Filipino families.
Around 400 Filipinos are still in Haiti, but Romualdez said the embassy is ready to provide them assistance as needed.
The Philippines has placed Haiti under Alert Level 1, meaning there are valid signs of internal disturbance, instability, and external threat to the host country. No evacuation is needed under this level, but Filipinos must exercise caution and avoid conflict zones.
The Philippines is one of the world’s top labor-exporting nations with about 8.6 million skilled and unskilled workers scattered abroad, exposing them to abuses, unfair labor practices, and in some cases, civil strife and armed conflict.
Remittances from Filipino migrant workers constitute a significant source of the country’s foreign exchange as they send home over $20 billion per year.
