Filipino migrants torn between safety and survival risks amid Middle East dangers
Lorelai Jacinto had worked as a domestic helper in Riyadh for two and a half years before she flew home to the Philippines on September 19, increasingly worried that the conflict in the Middle East was making it unsafe to stay. “When the conflict with Iran happened, I started feeling like it wasn’t safe there any more because I was right there in Riyadh myself, so the bombing, the missiles, were…
Filipino domestic workers in Riyadh face difficult choices between safety and financial stability amid escalating Middle Eastern conflicts, according to This Week in Asia. Lorelai Jacinto, a 29-year-old woman who returned home after two years of working in Riyadh, expressed concern over the recent series of missile strikes. She and her employers took precautions when alarms sounded due to the bombings.
Over 2 million OFWs remain in the region, with 800,000 in Saudi Arabia. The double Houthi strikes in Riyadh killed at least 13 people and injured over 300, including seven Filipinos. The Department of Migrant Workers is aiding the injured and monitoring their condition. Risks from the escalating war and economic difficulties make returning home a hard decision for many, as government aid programs are insufficient, according to experts.
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