By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Following the suspension of diplomatic ties between Qatar and several Arab nations, the Western Visayas Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has warned overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) returning from Qatar some airlines have accordingly suspended operations to the Middle Eastern nation.
OWWA regional director James Mendiola suggested OFWs transfer or purchase tickets with airline companies still flying into Qatar in order to avoid any inconveniences. However, he notes, OFWs should not find difficulty as affected airline companies announced they would fully refund tickets or refer customers to other carriers.
Earlier, the local Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) office in Negros Occidental said it is prepared to evacuate all OFWs in Qatar should the need arises.
The severing of diplomatic relations between Qatar and several gulf states stemmed from accusations the Qatari Government has been supporting various terror groups, including the Islamic State (IS) and Palestinian terror group Hamas.
Qatar was also accused of meddling in the internal affairs of its neighbors and aligning with Iran, Saudi Arabia’s primary rival in the Middle East./WDJ