This article discusses and/or reports on the topic of suicide. If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the friendly team at Embrace by calling 1564.
On May 23rd, a Filipina domestic worker reportedly jumped from a room she was sharing with two other foreign workers at the Philippine Embassy shelter in Beirut. The 29-year-old Filipina, Jenalyn Banares, died from her injuries a day later.
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in the Philippines announced the death of the Filipina “household worker” and assures that “details on the incident are currently being investigated.”
The statement adds that the rest of the female wards in the shelter will be provided with counseling to deal with the situation and avoid another tragic loss.
Her untimely death comes after a visit to the shelter center conducted by a human rights group that raised concerns about the treatment of workers in confinement.
According to Reuters, about 26 Filipino women have been confined in “crowded shelter under the care of the Philippine Embassy in Beirut” as they wait for repatriation after becoming unemployed (a result of the dual effects of the economic crisis and pandemic).
Responding to the concerns, the Philippine Embassy in Beirut uploaded a social media video with a caption that reads, “It has come to our attention at the Philippine Embassy in Beirut that there are reports regarding our facilities and the persons under our care.”
“We immediately conducted a thorough check and engaged in an open forum with our wards. This is the result of that visit, and rest assured that we take all reports seriously and to heart.”
“Thank you to those who took efforts to let us know and we hope this assures you of our commitment to our fellow Filipinos’ safety and well-being.”
This article discusses and/or reports on the topic of suicide. If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the friendly team at Embrace by calling 1564.
