KUALA LUMPUR - More than one million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East are facing direct and indirect risks as tensions rise following US-Israel strikes late last month.

Data from the Department of Migrant Workers shows that as of 2025, there are 1.113 million land-based OFWs in the region.

Of this number, 1.072 million, or 96.4%, are based in five countries closely linked geographically and economically to the conflict.

The largest numbers are in the United Arab Emirates (397,892), Saudi Arabia (386,699), Qatar (160,890), Kuwait (106,364) and Bahrain (21,129).

Earlier deployment records show that nearly 50,000 OFWs are also working in other parts of the region, including Jordan, Oman, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, Libya and Syria, as well as higher-risk areas such as Israel and Iran.

Over the weekend, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration advised OFWs to follow security guidance issued by Philippine embassies and local authorities.

A Filipino caregiver was killed in Israel on Sunday, March 1, during Iran’s counterattack following the US-Israel strikes.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed the death and identified the victim as Mary Ann Velasquez de Vera from Pangasinan.

If tensions worsen, the Department of National Defense said the Armed Forces of the Philippines is ready to assist Filipinos in the region, stressing that the protection of our nationals overseas remains a paramount concern.