President Duterte chairs a meeting with senior officials on January 5. (Photo: AP)Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered themilitary to prepare to deploy aircraft and ships to evacuate thousands ofPhilippine workers in Iraq and Iran in case violence breaks out following USairstrike at Baghdad International Airport last week.
Senator Christopher Lawrence Go said that President Duterte chaired a meetingwith senior officials on January 5, during which he asked the Armed Forces ofthe Philippines to be prepared to deploy military assets to repatriate Filipinosin the Middle East, particularly from Iran and Iraq at any moment’s notice.
According to military chief of staff Lieutenant General FelimonSantos Jr. said Philippine forces have identified possible evacuation routesnot only in Iraq and Iran but other hotspots like Israel.
The Philippines is a leading source of labour worldwide with about a tenth ofits more than 100 million people working mostly as household help, constructionworkers and seamen.
There are more than 7,000 Philippine workersand their dependents in Iraq and Iran, including many who work in the US andother foreign facilities and commercial establishments in Baghdad, theDepartment of National Defence said.
The workers in Iran and Iraq are a small fraction of the hundredsof thousands of Filipinos who are employed in countries lining the PersianGulf.
Like the Philippines, other countries have taken measures to bringtheir workers home. Asians make up 40 percent of the world's migrants, andMiddle Eastern countries are a common destination.
Tensions have risen in the Middle East after a US airstrike killedIranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. Iran has announced revenge for itsmilitary official while US President Donald Trump warned the US is targeting 52Iranian sites if Iran attacks Americans or US assets./.
VNA
