Bulatlat.com will provide live updates as they come about the crisis in Libya and the situation there of overseas Filipino workers.
Gil Lebria, Migrante International’s coordinator in Libya, said via Facebook message (to Bulatlat’s Janess Ann J. Ellao) that they are currently waiting to board the ship that would take them to Malta. From there, they would catch their flight back to Manila. Lebria added that it was their company who shouldered their airfare expenses. Lebria is with 300 other OFWs.
As of March 1, 8:00 a.m., the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reports that 440 OFWs have been repatriated and 161 more are expected to arrive today. They are expecting 36 OFWs to arrive tomorrow. The number excludes the 180 OFWs whose flight has been delayed.
Click here for DOLE’s partial list of OFWs to be repatriated today.
Update from Migrante International Crisis Hotline as of March 1, 12:00 noon:
Fr. Allan Arcebuche of the San Francisco Catholic Church-Caritas in Tripoli, Libya, who has been spearheading community efforts for the safety and evacuation of OFWs in Libya, suggested a site in Sirte City as alternative evacuation site for stranded OFWs.
Arcebuche said that the site, which has an airport and seaport, is relatively peaceful and is more accessible to OFWs from Jalo, Jufrah, Zellah Sebha and is also nearer Misurata, Sletin and Al Khoms than Tripoli and Benghazi.
According to Gina Esguerra, Migrante International secretary-general, Arcebuche tried to forward said proposal to Office of the Undersecretary for Overseas Workers Affairs (OUMWA)-DFA Exec. Dir. Ricardo Endaya but he was met with hostility.
Travel advisory on Filipino repatriates from Libya on March 1 and 2:
March 1, Tuesday
Flight No. : QR 648
Estimated Time of Arrival: 915 H
Expected Filipino Nationals: 16 (14 actual)*
Flight No. : GF 154
Estimated Time of Arrival: 1025 H
Expected Filipino Nationals: 41 (60 actual)*
Flight No. : GF 156
Estimated Time of Arrival:1455 H
Expected Filipino Nationals: 51
Flight No. : QR 646
Estimated Time of Arrival: 1535 H
Expected Filipino Nationals: 37
Flight No. : EY 424
Estimated Time of Arrival: 1615 H
Expected Filipino Nationals: 13
Flight No. : PR 731
Estimated Time of Arrival: 1820 H
Expected Filipino Nationals: 1
Flight No. : EK 334
Estimated Time of Arrival: 2230 H
Expected Filipino Nationals: 13
March 2, Wednesday
Flight No. : QR 644
Estimated Time of Arrival: 500 H
Expected Filipino Nationals: 36
Flight No. : SAE (Midwest Airways- chartered)
Estimated Time of Arrival: 640 H
Expected Filipino Nationals: 180
Flight No. : EY 424
Estimated Time of Arrival: 1615 H
Expected Filipino Nationals: 7 plus 4 ( via Greece)
*based on the filled out interception form upon arrival
Updates from Migrante International Crisis Hotline:
As of March 1, 7:24 a.m. — 109 OFWs have been waiting for more than a week near the border of Tunisia and Libya at Ghadames site. Ghadames site is 350 kilometers away from the nearest border at Wazzin and approximately 650 kilometers away from the Ras El Jdir where the Department of Foreign Affairs is supposedly situated. They asked to be fetched up by Philippine officials but the DFA refuses to meet with them.
As of March 1, 10:34 a.m. — 150 OFWs from Daewoo: Misurata Combine Cycle Project are still trapped in Misurata, Libya. Their employer promised to evacuate them last week but they are still waiting as of this posting. Their contact person there is Deo Catanghal Espinola, +218918241097
As of Feb. 28, 3:07 a.m. (from libyatripoli@rocketmail.com) — 30 Filipinos and 55 Vietnamese have been evacuated by their company employer via chartered plane. They will be flown back to Manila via Malta.
Update from Gil Lebria, Migrante-Libya coordinator, as of March 1, 12:50 p.m.:
Gil Lebria (front row, left) and other OFWs could not catch a flight to Manila from Benghazi in Libya, because protesters already took over the airport since last week. Lebria’s group were recently repatriated by a ship chartered by the Philippine government from Benghazi to Djerba, Tunisia in North Africa.
Lebria has recently reported that there are about 200 OFWs in Camp No. 5 in Hamada-Nalut who are trapped. Around 50 OFWs in Camp No. 4 ran out of food supply after their area was ransacked by armed men who fired at their gates. “Company vehicles, five Toyota double cab pick-up cars, were carjacked by the armed men then left (the OFWs) unharmed,” he said. (Photo from Gil Lebria of Migrante-Libya)
Update from Migrante International:
PARTIAL LIST OF STRANDED OFWs IN LIBYA AS OF FEB. 28, 2PM
Number of Stranded OFWs — 830
Male — 396
Female — 60
Number of Unidentified Persons — 374
Name of company and number of OFWs:
Abbas BienFarnas — 97 OFWs
Al Nahr Engineering Limited — 12 OFWs
Cosmo D & I Co., LTD. — 20 OFWs
Ferrostaal (Man) Co-AMAL V12 — 16 OFWs
Harouge — 16 OFWs
Deployed by Hopewell Agency — 17 OFWs
Jabel Oil Service — 17 OFWs
LBC Company — 11 OFWs
Lebda Cement Plant — 6 OFWs
LIBYAN SARAYAN COMPANY — 69 OFWs
Misuratah Libya — 7 OFWs
Mizdah General Hospital — 23 OFWs
OPS — 41 OFWs
Sabrata Clinic — 7 OFWs
VAQS — 14 OFWs
Waha Oil Co. — 6 OFWs
Updates from Migrante’s Crisis Hotline:
As of February 26 — 105 OFWs in Amal Area are ready for evacuation but are yet to receive information and assistance from the Philippine embassy. They are fearing for their lives because the area where they are situated are hounded by looters every night. Photos available at website.
As of February 26, 8:00 p.m. — Around 100 foreign workers in Wafa Site in ENI Gas Plant subcontracted by MAN Company braved the desert route towards the Algerian border for seven (7) hours. When they reached the border, however, 47 OFWs and 5 Thais were not allowed to pass through because of lack of documents, only German and French nationals were allowed to enter.
The OFWs called the POLO-OWWA in Libya and they were told to return to Ghadames “to coordinate”. They remain trapped at the border as of this posting. If they go back, it would take another two hours on foot
They are asking help from Philippine authorities to be allowed to pass through the Algerian border. Their main contact person is Noel Circulado, 0918619917/091865404.
As of February 27, 6:00 p.m. — OFWs from the Hopewell Recruitment Agency cannot contact the Embassy in Tripoli. They have run out of food supplies and decided to move out towards the Algerian border this morning where they perceive it ‘relatively safe to stay’. All of them do not have their passports with them. Below are the names of the OFWs:
1. Joey Cruz – contact number: 0919379779
2. Celso Sunga
3. Eliseo Ocampo
4. Wodilito Cruz
5. Marvin Ocampo
6. Eufrasio de Castro
7. Ricky Agustin
8. Marvin Paculian
9. Richard de Guzman
10. Benjie Legal
11. Artemio Gomez Jr.
12. Nelson Rapanan
13. Baltazar Blen Jr.
14. Sherwin Taniola
15. Danilo Belen
16. Engr. Ervin Gargado
As of February 28, 12:00 midnight — More than 60 OFWs arrived at the Libyan-Egyptian border Al Salloum but no Philippine embassy officials were stationed there. The OFWs come from Amal and Harouge. They left the site at 9:00am and arrived at Tubrouk at 4:00pm escorted by an armed group who they had to pay 400dinars each. Their contact persons are Armie John – 0918924909 and Gilbert Garcia- 0918953061.
As of February 28 — A group of around 200 migrants, among them 80 OFWs, led by Migrante-Libya coordinator Gil Lebria has reached Tunisia at 6:00am. They are currently staying at a hotel there and will be flying back to Manila via Germany. Embassy officials are also missing in action in Tunisia, one of the exit posts identified by the DFA. Photos available at Migrante International website.
Heads Must Roll, OFW Reported Dead in Libya — Migrante International (PR)
Below is the list of numbers that may contacted by families and relatives of distressed OFWs in Libya. All distress calls and messages will be urgently forwarded to concerned government agencies for their immediate attention.
Migrante International Crisis Hotline:
Mobile: 0932-3995952
Email: menacrisiscenter.migrante@gmail.com
Landline: 9114910
Website: http://migranteinternational.org
In Libya:
Fr. Allan Arcebuche – +218-925156684 – San Francesco Catholic Church, Caritas, Tripoli, Libya
Fr. Ronnie Asuero – +218- 928132184 – Banghasi, Libya
Various provinces in the Philippines:
Baguio – Veron Malecdan, Migrante coordinator
16 Loro St, Telephone number: 4425347, Mobile: 0939-8657893
Pangasinan – Boni Aldo, Migrante coordinator, Mobile: 0918-5836880
Isabela – Diocesan Migrant Center/Religious of the Good Shepherd
Sr. Mela, RGS, Mobile: 0918-6018240
Ilocos – Linda Caluza, Migrante regional coordinator, Mobile: 0926-4112380
Iloilo – Cynthia Deduro, Migrante regional coordinator
2nd Flr, Rizal Multipurpose, Rizal St, La Paz
Telephone: 3295778, Mobile: 0921-5804138
Davao – Center for Overseas Workers
Sr. Diane Cabansagan, Mobile: 0920-9523604
Lito – 0928-5819034
News in Pictures: Hundreds of OFWs Stranded in Libya, in Dire Need of Assistance, Evacuation
Update from Migrante International, Feb 26 at 4:09 p.m.
There are 105 OFWs stranded/trapped in Amal Area in Libya. The OFWs, awaiting immediate evacuation, have yet to receive assistance from the Philippine embassy officials.
Below is the text of the email message received via Migrante Crisis Hotline forwarded by the wife of one OFW:
Due to present worsening situation here in Libya, please help us by arranging our immediate repatriation/ evacuation kasi naipit po kmi sa tumitinding gulo ng people power dito sa Libya. Ito ang situation namin ngayon dito:
1-Bagamat nandito kmi sa deserto (Amal Area Oilfields) kaso ginulo kmi gabi-gabi ng mga armed looters na nansamantala sa panahon wla ngayon goberno na gusto pumasok sa mga campo naming mga Foreign contractors dito. Naubos na lahat mga sasakyan at mga heavy equipments namin kinuha by force kya gabi-gabi wla kmi tulog lagi bantay bka isunod ang mga gamit namin sa kwarto-kwarto na gusto kunin.
2-Nangamba kmi dito baka lusubin ng mga taong gusto mgtake-over o mg sabotage ng mga Oilfields Oil Depot dito sa location pinagtrabahuan nmin.
3-Ready na sana kmi sa evacuation kung klan ready ang companya namin o ano plano ng Embassy ntin dito sa Libya kaso hangang ngayon wla pang action o tulong kmi ntangap.
4- Isa pang pangamba nmin dito bka maubusan ng stock sa pgkain at inumin tulad ng mga kabayan doon sa city na di makalabas at wala ng mabiling pagkain kung tatagal ang gulo at dpa kmi makauwi mas lalala kung mawalan pa kami ng kuryente. Di kmi makaalis dto kasi puro road blocks at limited international flights except siguro kung arranged by our Embassy.
5-For our head count, yan may attached kaming list of Filipinos trapped here in Amal Area, location map at mga picture sa sitwasyon nmin dito na nghihintay ng tulong, ito nlang internet ang communication nmin hangang may kuryente pa dito dhil block ang mga signal ng telepono. Kindly arranged our immediate safe repatriation/evacuation.
Sana uma-action agad ang lahat na sangay ng goberno ntin na ang katungkulan ay pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mg OFW affectado sa gulo dito sa Libya
Our Company:
OPS International Ltd –
Co. Tripoli Address :Hay Andlus, Balad Al-Walid St., Tripoli, Libya
Office Tripoli Contact # +218 21 477 1801 Fax # +218 21 477 0905
Our Present Workers Site Location : Harouge Oil Operations-Amal Area V12- Libya
Lastly, why there is no email address of the Department of Foreign Affairs in their website
Regards,
Virgilio S. Bagano
Area Facilities Engineer
Libya Contact # +218 914670428
Phil Contact # +63 917741 5200
Christian S. Marte Libya Contact # +218 914 529 652
Updates from Migrante International Crisis Hotline as of February 26, 8 p.m.*
Around 100 foreign workers in Wafa Site in ENI Gas Plant subcontracted by MAN Company braved the desert route towards the Algerian border for seven (7) hours. When they reached the border, however, 47 OFWs and 5 Thais were not allowed to pass through because of lack of documents, only German and French nationals were allowed to enter.
The OFWs called the POLO-OWWA in Libya and they were told to return to Ghadames “to coordinate”. They remain trapped at the border as of this posting. If they go back, it would take another two hours on foot.
They are asking help from Philippine authorities to be allowed to pass through the Algerian border. Their main contact person is Noel Circulado, 0918619917/091865404.
* reports from Fr. Allan Arcebuche, San Francesco Catholic Church, Caritas, Tripoli, Libya
#OFWsLibya Bulatlat.com will provide live updates as they come about the crisis in Libya and the situation there of overseas Filipino workers.
Bulatlat Live Updates: OFWs in Libya (Second Part)
Actress Jodi Sta. Maria joins Migrante in demanding justice for OFW killed in Mongolia (Photo by Brett Jelinek / Bulatlat.com)
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February 27th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
Sa ating Embahada, tulungan po ninyo ang mga OFW sa Misurata area , Hindi sila makalabas kasi may demonstrador na rin dun. ang sabi nila kailangan ay chafer derict sa campo nila kasi kung lalabas sila delikado, maraming stray bullets.
March 2nd, 2011 at 4:11 pm
[...] Bulatlat Live Updates: OFWs in Libya (Day 1-3) [...]