Consulate starts providing temporary shelters to OFWs in Jeddah

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday said the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah is providing temporary shelters in the city to undocumented Filipinos who are camping out on a vacant lot near the Consulate while waiting for their repatriation.

The Consulate is now setting up two large tents on the fourth floor of the Consulate to accommodate a total of 200 women and children.

A friend of the Consulate likewise offered to take in 80 women and children and 90 men in his housing compound.

The Consulate is also hoping to make a gymnasium of a Philippine School available to 500 more campers soon, subject to the approval of the Saudi Ministry of Education.

The Filipinos will be provided basic necessities during their stay in the facilities.

Most of the campers are expected to be in the shelters by this weekend.

Earlier, the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh sent a note verbale to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting the Saudi Government’s assistance on the following:

1)    waiver of public rights including issuance and renewal fees of iqama (residence permit);

2)    help in locating and negotiating with the original sponsor to obtain a “no objection certificate, and if possible a waiver of the requirement in the absence of any derogatory criminal record or complaint by the sponsor against the Filipinos;

3)    providing emergency shelters for the women and children; and

4)    providing a similar arrangement for illegal Filipinos based in Riyadh and Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Region.

A migrant workers' rights group has  earlier said overseas Filipino workerds camping out beside the Consulate has numbered to more than 1,000. The stranded OFWS are said to be asking for repatriation to the Philippines.