Inanunsyo ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) nitong Linggo, Marso 19, na nakauwi na ang 27 pang overseas Filipinos mula sa Turkey na naapektuhan ng nangyaring magnitude 7.8 na lindol sa naturang bansa at sa Syria noong Pebrero 6, kung saan mahigit 50,000 indibidwal ang nasawi.
Ayon sa DFA, nakauwi na ang nasabing mga Pinoy nitong Sabado, Marso 18, sa pamamagitan ng Office of the Undersecretary of Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA) at Philippine Embassy in Ankara.
Ito na umano ang pangatlong batch ng mga Pinoy na tinulungan ng DFA na makabalik sa kani-kanilang mga tahanan matapos silang maapektuhan ng lindol sa Turkey.
“The Filipinos were all smiles as they gave thanks to the Philippine Embassy in Ankara, as well as the DFA and the Philippine Government, for the quick help in securing their safety, housing and feeding them and their families, and eventually arranging for their travel back to the Philippines,” saad ng DFA.
Sa ngayon ay nasa 76 Pinoy na umano ang napauwi ng DFA mula Turkey.
“Continued assistance is still being provided by the Embassy to Filipinos housed in the Embassy shelter,” saad ng DFA.
“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,” dagdag nito.
Sa 280 kabuuang bilang ng mga Pinoy sa Turkey, nasa 160 umano ang piniling manatili doon dahil ang iba sa kanila ay kasal sa Turkish nationals habang ang iba naman ay napangakuan na rin ng housing at financial assistance ng pamahalaan ng Turkey.
