Will I Go Home Or Not?
OFW Shares How He Escaped During The Iraqi Invasion Of Kuwait
IRAQ INVADES IRAN – A former Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) from Kuwait shares his experience on how he and his companions escaped during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
As tensions rose between the United States and Iran, the Philippine Government was quick to deploy contingency plans for the evacuation of their OFWs in the middle east.
However, that wasn’t the case for OFWs in Iraq back on August 02, 1990. At around 2:00 a.m., Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait and overwhelmed their defenses.
This is the gripping story of Eduardo Delrey, an OFW war victim in Kuwait that escaped during the invasion.
WILL I GO HOME OR NOT
On August 02,1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait and occupied. The first attack bombed the electric power plant it was too dark at night, no more water supply..no more food supply. Business establishments were ransacked by people looking for food. Snipers in tall buildings were looking for military and civilian prey
He recalled that foreign workers were left to fend for themselves. Their employers had abandoned them and embassies were closed.
On August 08, 1990 Filipino workers in Yusuf Alghanim and Sons LLC, an american car dealer GM based in Safat, Kuwait decided to escaped the war torn country.
From Alfahaheel housing camp, they loaded two TATA yellow Busses with more or less 150 persons. All were male workers with two dependent women…they brought only mineral water in Pet bottles and their passport…they brought diesel fuel in two plastic minidrum…
As they were on the road, two Nissan pickups packed with Iraqui civilian armed group tried to stop the fleeing workers. Luckily, the Pinoy driver was quick to think of a way out.
He told the workers to flash and wave victory signs to the armed groups to signal that they were part on the same side. Miraculously, their plan worked and the armed grouped stopped and changed course.
To avoid road check points, the Pinoy drivers decided to cross the desert. Without a compass or guide it was easy to be wild and stranded. Worse, the diesel fuel became empty. But, by the ingenuity of Pinoy mechanics they put hoses from plastic drum and fed the diesel engine.
As they were traveling across the desert, the sand proved to be quite a hindrance to their vehicle. Delrey recalled that once the bus slowed down, the sand would swallow the tires. They used every seat upholstery to free the wheels, he added.
During the night of total darkness in the desert of “NO MANS LAND”, they saw many convoys of light rushing for safety. After two nights of roving around they saw the walls of Saudi Arabia.
Armed Saudis in horse circle them around and throw them mineral waters. The Saudis brought a heavy equipment and towed the two bus inside the Saudi territory.
The Saudis gave also riyals for food..The two Bus proceeded to Al Khafgi Reffugee Camp where all nationalities directed for processing of documents
Finally, they reached the Philippine Embassy at Riyadh. The two buses they used to escape were later reduced to skeletons outside the embassy walls.
Now, Eduardo Delrey would like to know if any of his companions are still alive today. If you know an OFW that shared this experience, please share Eduardo’s story with them.
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