DMW collaborating with UAE authorities to bring home the remains of overseas Filipino workers

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is working tirelessly with United Arab Emirates authorities to repatriate the remains of three overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who tragically lost their lives in the massive flooding that hit the UAE last week.

According to reports, two Filipinas died from suffocation inside their vehicle during the height of the flooding, while a male OFW succumbed to injuries sustained when his vehicle fell into a sinkhole. Two other male Filipino workers were injured in a vehicular accident and are currently recovering in the hospital.

Teams from the DMW, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Philippine consulate general in Dubai are providing assistance to stranded Filipino passengers whose flights were delayed or rescheduled due to the severe weather conditions. They are distributing food packs, essential items, and offering airline flight assistance to those in need.

The UAE authorities have confirmed a total of four deaths due to the heavy rains, with the latest casualty being an Emirati man in his 70s whose vehicle was swept away by floods in the northern Ras Al Khaimah emirate.

The extreme weather events in the UAE and Oman have been attributed to human-led global warming by scientists. The storm, which first hit Oman and then UAE, has caused widespread devastation, with Dubai International Airport still struggling to clear a backlog of flights three days after the storm.

As of Friday morning, approximately 30 percent of all flights to and from Dubai had been canceled since Tuesday, causing major disruptions in air travel. Despite the challenges, efforts are ongoing to provide support and assistance to affected OFWs in the region.