21 Abril 2024, Linggo
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supports International Autism Day, April 1-8, 2024
DMW – UAE authorities to repatriate remains of OFWs
By Nidz Godino
“They explained procedures needed to facilitate repatriation of victims’ remains back to the Philippines,” Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is working with United Arab Emirates authorities to repatriate remains of three overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) died in massive flooding in UAE last week.
Both Migrant Workers Office-Dubai and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) also met with next of kin of three Filipino workers.
Two Filipinas died from suffocation inside their vehicle at the height of flooding on Wednesday.
Third victim, male, died from injuries sustained when his vehicle fell into sinkhole also on Wednesday.
Two other Filipino workers, both male, suffered injuries from vehicular accident and are recuperating in their hospital rooms, Migrant Workers Office-Dubai reported.
Teams from DMW, OWWA and Philippine consulate general at Dubai International Airport are working to assist Filipinos whose flights were delayed or rescheduled due to severe rains and bad weather. They provided stranded Filipino passengers with food packs, essential personal items and airline flight assistance.
Migrant Workers Office said weather is improving, although large areas around Gulf State remain flooded. It added its office in Abu Dhabi also distributed food and relief packs to about 800 OFWs living and working in Al Touba district, one of the remote areas badly affected by severe weather disturbance.
Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi Migrant Workers Offices, according to DMW, would continue monitoring situation and provide necessary support and assistance to affected OFWs.
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Meanwhile, UAE authorities confirmed deaths from heavy rains rose to four on Friday. It also said rains continue to flood roads and jam Dubai’s international airport.
Fourth casualty was Emirati man in his 70s, died when his vehicle was swept away by floods in northern Ras Al Khaimah emirate.
Scientists blame increasingly common extreme weather events, such as rains in UAE and Oman, on human-led global warming. Storm first hit Oman the previous weekend, killing at least 20 people, before pounding UAE on Tuesday with its heaviest rains in 75 years of records.
Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest and hub for travel around Middle East, was still struggling to clear backlog of flights three days after storm.
It was limiting arrivals for two days.
Flagship carrier Emirates, one of the world’s biggest international airlines, said check-in was suspended for people planning to transit via Dubai, but those with city as final destination could travel as usual.
As of Friday morning, 1,478 flights to and from Dubai had been cancelled since Tuesday, approximately 30 percent of all flights, according to aircraft flight tracking website FlightRadar24.
In the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, state carrier Etihad said flight operations were back to normal.
The main road connecting Dubai, the most populous emirate, with Abu Dhabi remained partially closed on Friday, while an alternative route saw vehicles driving through low water on the hard shoulder past abandoned cars and buses.
In the UAE’s north, including in the emirate of Sharjah, local media reported people were still trapped in homes. Residents said there was extensive damage to businesses.
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