'Hindi Kayang Kitain sa Pinas' — OFWs in Israel Endure Sleepless Nights Under Airstrikes But Refuse to Leave
As the US-Israel conflict with Iran rages on, Filipino workers in Israel are living through sleepless nights of nonstop sirens and explosions — but they're staying put. In interviews aired on GMA's "24 Oras," several OFWs described the harrowing reality of life under fire, where bomb shelters have become a second home.
"Nung naglalakad kami, malapit na kami sa bomb shelter, may sumabog sa taas na walang siren," recalled Jellboy Orsua. "Nakita na lang namin yung mga tao, nagtatakbuhan na." He explained that while missile alerts usually come 10 minutes before impact through their cellphones, drone attacks are much harder to detect — sometimes there's no warning at all before the explosion hits.
Another OFW named Ricasol described the relentless pace of the airstrikes. "It's hard to get sleep," she said. "There were times when we went to the bomb shelter and waited there for a while. But before we can return to our rooms, the sirens would again be activated." The attacks, she said, come almost every five minutes — making rest nearly impossible.
Despite the danger, these workers are choosing to stay for one simple reason: money. "Para sa akin, mananatili pa rin ako rito kasi yung kinikita ko rito hindi kayang kitain sa iba," Ricasol said plainly. She plans to stay for at least another year. For Jellboy and fellow OFW Eden Sobremonte, they said they'll only leave if a mandatory evacuation is ordered.
The airstrikes between US-Israel forces and Iran have been ongoing for a week now, with bomb shelters packed with residents — including many Filipinos who've made Israel their workplace in search of better opportunities. Their stories are a stark reminder of the risks OFWs face just to provide for their families back home. "Kung mandatory, uuwi po kami," Jellboy said. "Pero sa ngayon, okay pa naman po kami."
Source: GMA News
