MANILA — The Philippine Embassy in Amman, Jordan, has welcomed the first group of Filipino evacuees fleeing the intensifying Israel-Iran conflict, with an engineer and five others crossing the border from Israel, officials said late Thursday.
Edsel Sarquilla, an engineer, was the first to arrive in Jordan on Wednesday, followed by four tourists and another Filipino worker, according to the embassy. Ambassador Wilfredo Santos and embassy staff received the evacuees, marking the initial phase of repatriation efforts as tensions escalate in the region.
The Philippine Embassy in Amman is bracing for more arrivals, with officials conducting inspections at the Jordan-Israel border to ensure smooth processing. “The Philippine Embassy in Amman remains committed to providing all necessary support and repatriation assistance in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,” the embassy said in a statement.
The Embassy in Tel Aviv played a critical role in facilitating the safe exit of the tourists, coordinating closely with Israeli authorities to navigate border crossings. The Philippine government is also preparing to repatriate 14 Filipino workers from Iran, while maintaining coordination with its embassies in Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq to monitor the situation.
The conflict, which erupted on June 13 with Israeli airstrikes on Iran followed by retaliatory strikes from Tehran, has taken a heavy toll. Official reports indicate 224 deaths in Iran and 24 in Israel, according to Anadolu news agency. In Israel, 67 Filipinos have lost their homes, and seven have been injured, with one in critical condition as of June 18.
To support returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the government is providing PHP150,000 (approximately $2,600) in financial assistance per worker, funded equally by the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
Filipinos in the West Bank seeking assistance can contact the Philippine Embassy in Amman through dedicated hotlines: +962 77 907 7778, +962 77 907 7775, +962 77 798 8818, +962 77 721 9000, or +962 6 590 1730 for consular support.
