13 May 2014 – The Philippine Embassies in Beirut, Lebanon and Damascus, Syria with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) successfully repatriated 41 Filipinos from Syria on May 6 in their 50th cross-border operation.
The departure of this group of 41 Filipinos brought to 2,305 the total number of Filipinos repatriated from Syria via the Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut since the first cross-border operations began on 12 December 2012. This brings the total number of Filipinos repatriated from Syria to 5,334.
The airfare, land transportation and meals of the repatriates were provided by the IOM.
A team from the Philippine Embassy in Beirut composed of Vice Consul Dennis John Briones and Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) Officer Dexter Macaraeg assisted the repatriates at the Masna’a border, together with representatives of the IOM. After undergoing entry immigration procedures in Masna’a, the Embassy team escorted the repatriates directly to the Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut where another team from the Embassy and IOM assisted them in going through airline and immigration formalities. Vice Consul Briones and Embassy Collecting Officer Alberto Bansil comprised the Embassy airport team.
At 7:50 p.m., the repatriates left Beirut for their flight to Manila via Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The group arrived in Manila on May 7 at 3:55 p.m. via Emirates Airlines flight EK 332.
The Department of Foreign Affairs also continues to appeal to all Filipinos who are still in Syria to seek immediate repatriation. For assistance, they may call the Embassy in Damascus at 00963-11-6132626, 00963-949155557, and 00963-934957926 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The families of Filipinos in Syria may also provide the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) with up-to-date information regarding their next-of-kin’s present location and contact details in Syria. Those who wish to do so may call the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA) at (02) 834-3240 or 834-4583 or the DFA’s 24-hour Action Center at (02) 834-3333. END
