OFWs in Iraq urged to register with embassy amid threats of dam collapse

The Philippine Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq is reminding Filipinos working in Baghdad and other cities along the Tigris River floodplain to register with the embassy in view of the possible collapse of the Mosul Dam.

About 300 Filipino workers are estimated to be in Baghdad and nearby cities.

"We reiterate our request to our kababayans, especially those in Baghdad, to please register with the Embassy so that we would know where they are and how to reach them in case of an emergency,” Chargé d’Affaires Elmer G. Cato said. “As much as possible, we would not want to leave anyone behind.”

The Iraqui government has earlier warned people living along the Tigris to consider relocating six kilometers away from the river amid threats of the Mosul Dam collapsing.

The Mosul Dam, which is one of the biggest in the world in terms of reservoir capacity, is in danger of collapsing due to faulty construction.

Cato noted that some Filipino workers hesitate to register in fear that they will be repatriated due to the current alert level 4 in Iraq.

“We want to assure our kababayans and their families in the Philippines that this is not the case,” Cato said.

“We are doing this to make sure we would be able to bring our people out of harm’s way,” he clarified.