Some evacuees were brought by the Philippine Embassy to Ankara, but many more made their way to Ankara on their own and sought the Embassy’s assistance for a temporary shelter, for lack of options outside of earthquake-affected areas. They lost their homes which were demolished or significantly damaged during the earthquake that rocked southeastern Turkey on 6 February 2023 and the aftershocks that have followed.

 

At the shelter, Philippine Ambassador to Türkiye Maria Elena P. Algabre explained how different groups of Filipino volunteers have been coordinating with the Philippine Embassy to contribute to the meals served at the shelter, and to donate clothes, blankets, and other small necessities for the families staying there. Their generosity is complementing the assistance being provided by the DFA through the Philippine Embassy in Ankara.

 

According to Ambassador Algabre, the Embassy was currently providing shelter to 102 persons making up 34 families. Of these, 24 Filipinos, some with dual citizenship, making up eight (8) families, would be repatriated to the Philippines on 8 March 2023.

This will be the second group to be repatriated from Türkiye by the DFA, in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Ankara. The first group of repatriates from Turkey arrived in the Philippines on 27 February 2023.

 

“The DFA will continue to assist and work on the repatriation of all distressed Filipinos in Turkiye who wish to return to the Philippines and rebuild their lives there,” affirmed Undersecretary de Vega. He added, “This is our mantra of service for overseas Filipinos, not just in Türkiye, but all over the world.” END