Nearly 500 overseas Filipino workers affected by the Al Barsha residential fire in Dubai last May have received financial aid, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac, who was in Dubai to attend the 127th Philippine Independence Day Celebration, said in a statement on Monday that he met with around 200 fire victims at the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Dubai.

“I was able to meet roughly 200 victims and we helped almost 500,” he said. 

Two Filipinos died in the blaze, and DMW officials are coordinating with the families to repatriate their remains. Many survivors remain displaced and continue to deal with trauma from the incident, Cacdac added.

He also noted that a second round of assistance is being prepared for families of the fire victims in the Philippines.

The MWO and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Dubai reported that they initially assisted around 400 Filipinos between 14 and 24 May. The MWO-Dubai provided financial aid totaling AED 170,500 (approximately P2.5 million), while OWWA extended about AED 25,800 (around P390,000) in assistance.

According to Dubai Civil Defense, the fire that broke out on May 13 was caused by a gas leak at Pearl View Restaurant.

Cacdac also met with immigration authorities to discuss concerns related to detained overseas Filipino workers. He said assurances were made that the Philippine government would be allowed to extend assistance to those in custody.

The DMW secretary acknowledged UAE immigration officials for assisting more than 2,000 Filipinos who joined the country’s amnesty program in 2024.