Philippines investigates domestic helper’s suicide at shelter in Lebanon
- The woman was staying at a shelter run by the Philippine embassy for Filipino workers waiting to go home after losing their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic
- Her death comes days after human rights groups criticised the conditions at the shelter
In a statement, the embassy said the unnamed “household service worker” arrived on Friday at the shelter, where she shared a room with two others, and took her own life the next day. She died of her injuries on Sunday, it said.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said it had contacted the woman’s family.
“The Embassy was able to speak to the Filipina’s eldest sister in the Philippines as well as her cousin in Lebanon to convey its condolences,” the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “The embassy has ensured the safety of the rest of the female wards in the shelter and will provide them counselling as needed.”
A spokesman from Lebanon’s internal security forces said they could not comment while an investigation was ongoing.
The worker’s comes just days after human rights groups raised concerns about the treatment of 26 female domestic workers staying at the shelter under the care of the Philippine embassy.