2 recruiters arrested for offering fake jobs in Dubai

 

The arrested recruiters offered fake nanny jobs in Dubai

Two Filipinos who allegedly offered non-existent jobs in Dubai, United Arab Emirates were arrested on Wednesday by operatives from the Department of Migrant Workers and the Philippine National Police.

The two who were identified as Elmina Hajiruk Jawad alias “Mau” and Angelina Paridjal Abduhasan alias “Josh” were arrested in General Trias, Cavite after three people complained that the jobs they promised in Dubai did not materialize.

According to the complaint,  the two suspects offered them jobs as nanny in Dubai, with a salary of 1,600 dirhams (Php26,850) each month. To convince them, “Mau” and “Josh” allegedly showed them a number of applicants who were supposedly about to leave for Dubai to take up the promised job.

But upon checking, the DMW found that the recruitment agency used by the two suspects to lure victims did not have approved job orders for Dubai

Because of this, the DMW Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) decided to raid the agency’s office. But before the operation, the DMW also learned that there were other applicants inside the premises, so they mounted a rescue operation at the same time.

Investigators are now preparing to file a case of illegal recruitment against the two.

The MWPB is also appealing to other victims of “Mau” and “Josh” to reach out to them through https://www.facebook.com/dmwairtip so they can be provided with legal help.

State 101visa consultancy has offices all over the country

Earlier, DMW agents also shut down a visa consultancy company for offering fake caregiver and nurse jobs in the United States and Canada and coached applicants to create fake documents to secure visas.

State 101 Travel Visa Consultancy with offices in Pasig and other places across the country, allegedly offered applicants USD1,800 monthly salaries with free meals and housing via tourist or short-term training visas. They were not given contracts, and were promised immediate deployment.

Victims who were estimated to be in the hundreds, reported that after paying processing and reservation fees, agency staff gave false promises and blocked them on social media.

DMW said State 101 was not licensed to recruit Filipinos for overseas jobs. However, it has yet to say whether those behind the apparent recruitment scam have been arrested and charged.

Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said there were several "red flags" in the way State 101 operated: victims: (1) it was offering the jobs through social media; (2) it provided no work contracts despite charging applicants heft fees; (3) it promised immediate deployment without going through DMW; (4) it was not licensed to recruit Filipinos for work abroad.

Pinoy avoids jail for criminal damage

 

The building's front door was damaged (Google Maps hoto)

A Filipino who holds a Macau identity card avoided being detained in jail when he received a suspended sentence for deliberately damaging the glass front door of a building in Fortress Hill.

Neil Dennis Baniwas, 25 years old and unemployed, was sentenced by Eastern Court Principal Magistrate David Cheung on Tuesday (May 19) to two months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

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But he was ordered to pay $77,000 as compensation to the owner of the building, Savills Property Management Limited.

With the sentence, Baniwas does not need to spend a day in jail as long as he does not commit any criminal offense in the next 18 months.

Basahin ang detalye!

The case arose after he damaged an entrance glass door, door pillar and a floor tile, “intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged,” the police complaint said.

The offense took place last April 30,  2026 at the ground floor of  Lee & Man Commercial Center, on 169 Electric Road, Fortress Hill.

Baniwas was charged with criminal damage, contrary to section 60 (1) and 63 (2) of the Crimes Ordinance,

Statue Square partially closed off for redevelopment

 

Will this be the end for 'Blackman', a favorite meeting place for FDWs in Central?
(photo from Threads@deviantplus)

An iconic landmark in Central fondly dubbed “Blackman” by many foreign domestic workers may soon be gone, or moved from its present location in Statue Square,  as construction gets underway to link the Central MTR station to the new Harbourfront.

The bronze statue of Sir Thomas Jackson along with the fountain , park benches and shelters in the square where many FDWs often meet on Sundays, have been fenced off until 2031 as part of the redevelopment plan.

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The statue of the first Chief Manager of HSBC was first unveiled in the square in 1906 but was removed by Japanese forces during the Second World War to be melted down for metal but fortunately survived.

It was moved to its present place in May 1966, when the square underwent major reconstruction as part of Hong Kong’s greening campaign.

'Blackman' has been in this spot in Statue Square since 1966

Photos posted online show the raised platform where the statue stands has been boarded up, and is already being demolished.

However, more than 70% of the garden’s remaining area including most leisure spaces and walkways have been kept open.

But there will be major disruptions, with the first two phases of the project requiring excavation and tunnel construction over 45 months, or nearly four years.  

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Chater Road, where many Filipinos gather on Sundays and holidays, will be used for hauling construction materials, and the existing bus stop there will be relocated about 10 meters to the east.

The third phase which will take another 12 months, will restore parts of Statue Square once the tunnel is completed.

However, nothing is mentioned in the plans as to whether “Blackman” will be returned to where it has lorded over for the past 120 years.

 

DHs targeted in latest Immigration crackdown on illegal work

 

One of the FDHs arrested during the territory-wide operations

A series of anti-illegal work operations that specifically targeted foreign domestic helpers who breached their conditions of stay resulted in the arrest of 17 persons from May 17 to 19 (yesterday).

Those arrested included nine suspected illegal workers and eight employers.

The suspected illegal workers comprised two who are currently employed as FDHs, three former FDHs who had overstayed their visas, three holders of non-recognizance documents (asylum seekers) and one imported worker.m  

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They were found working in food and beverage shops, groceries, hairdressers, and as cleaners.

The eight suspected employers, comprising two men and six women aged 26 to 76, were owners of the companies or restaurants involved, or were the contractual employers of the arrested FDHs.

Items seized during 'Operation Swordfish'

In a press briefing, Immigration officers said they found at least two FDHs moonlighting at businesses owned by their employers.

One worked one to two hours as a waitress and kitchen assistant during the busy times at a restaurant owned by her employer.

Another was found doing multi-tasking at a grocery store operated by her employer’s family, from opening the shop to working as bookkeeper and cashier.

Basahin ang detalye!

Separately, a Pakistani man was arrested for providing cheap haircuts and dye jobs to fellow countrymen in a salon in Wan Chai which he plastered with posters to escape detection.

Immigration says its investigation into the cases is continuing, and more arrests are possible.

In addition, it has released a new video reminding employers not to hire FDHs employed by other people, or arrange for them to engage in illegal work. The publicity video will be released on the official social media platforms of the Immigration Department.

Immigration officers give a press briefing on the arrests

Immigration said in a statement, “A helper should only perform domestic duties for the employer as listed in the 'Schedule of Accommodation and Domestic Duties' attached to the Contract. The helper should not take up any other employment, including part-time domestic duties, with any other person. The employer should not require or allow the helper to carry out any work for any other person.”

Employers who hire illegal workers can be fined up to HK$500,000 and jailed a maximum of 10 years.

The illegal workers themselves can be imprisoned for up to two years and fined a maximum of HK$50,000.

If they are found to have overstayed or have pending applications for non-refoulement or are illegal immigrants, the maximum penalty is three years in jail and a HK$50,000 fine.

Apart from this, they can be deported on orders by the Chief Executive and prevented from returning to Hong Kong if they have been found guilty of an offence punishable by imprisonment for not less than two years.

 

Pinay gets 12 months in jail for $172K jewelry theft

 

Illustrative photo created with deevid.ai

A Filipina domestic helper was sentenced to 12 months in jail today after she pleaded guilty at Kwun Tong Court to stealing jewelry worth $172,100 from her employer.

Amieluz Cenas, 31 years old, admitted stealing one Rolex watch, one Hamilton watch, four gold pendants, K-gold necklace with pendant, two gold medals, one gold bangle, one gold ring, one gold necklace, two K-gold jewelry, with a grand total value of $172,100, the property of Zhou Yimeng.

The theft, which is contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance, took place between the Dec. 15, 2025 and Feb. 27 this year at the employer’s flat in Telford Gardens, 33 Wai Yip Street, Ngau Tau Kok, Kowloon.

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Acting Principal Magistrate May Chung cited the Cenas’ breach of her employer’s confidence in setting the sentence’s starting point at 18 months, which was cut by the usual one third discount for her guilty plea.

Also accused of theft in another case today in Kwun Tong Court was Lizabeth Untalan, 52 years old, who was remanded in jail by Magistrate Chung after adjourning the case to July 6 for mention.

Untalan was charged with stealing last May 9 four watches and some jewelry with a grand total value of $410,000, the property of female Lee Shiu Yin Catherine, at their house in Tai Tan, Pak Tam Road, Sai Kung, New Territories.

Basahin ang detalye!

Over at Eastern Court, Liezel Tan, 42 years old, was accused of stealing one yellow gold bangle (brand: Tiffany), one 18k bracelet (brand: Fred), one gold necklace (brand: Chaumet), one gold ring (brand: Chaumet), one yellow gold pendant (brand: Tiffany), and one 18K rose gold diamond ring (brand: Bvlgari), with a total value of $188,400, the property of Lin Xinyue.

She allegedly committed the offense between Jan. 1 and May 8 this year, at their flat in Larvotto at 8 Ap Lei Chau Praya Road, Aberdeen.

Tan, who had no permanent address in Hong Kong after being terminated from her job as domestic helper, was also returned to jail after Principal Magistrate David Cheung adjourned the case to June 23 for mention.

Qualifying exam in 13 Phl professions to be held in HK

 

Schedule of the evaluation of applicants' documents

Filipinos who wish to get qualified in 13 different professions in the Philippines will have the chance to do this in the first-ever simultaneous Special Professional Licensure Examination (SPLE) to be held later this month in Hong Kong.

The SPLE will be administered by the Professional Regulation Commission and will cover graduates of aeronautical engineering, agriculture, architecture, civil engineering, customs brokerage, midwifery, nursing, education, psychometrics, respiratory therapy, social work, veterinary medicine and X-ray technology.

The examinations will be given on varying days for each profession, from May 26 to May 31.\

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Those taking the aero engineering, agriculture, social work and vet-med exams will have to do this over three days while it will be two days for the architecture, civil engineering, customs brokerage, midwifery, nursing, psychometrics, respiratory therapists and X-ray technology qualifiers.

For those aspiring to be licensed teachers, the examination will only be held on Day One.

Before they can get approval to take the examination in their respective fields, applicants should get their documents checked and validated from May 25-27.

All would-be examinees are required to personally appear at the OFW Global Center on the 18^th floor of United Centre in Admiralty and bring the following: original copy of the application form, all documentary requirements, valid Philippine passport, and four pieces of passport-size photos with name tags.

For a hassle-free approval, examinees are encouraged to check the additional requirements for their Board exam through the PRC official website: ℎ𝑡𝑡𝑝𝑠://𝑝𝑟𝑐.𝑔𝑜𝑣.𝑝ℎ/𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑥.𝑝ℎ𝑝/𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡-𝑜𝑓-𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡.

Basahin ang detalye!

Failure to fully comply with the application rules could result in the rejection of the application.

All the examinations and the pre-approval process will take place at the OFW Global Center on the designated dates.

For more information, check out the Facebook page of the Migrant Workers Office in Hong Kong: https://www.facebook.com/MWOHONGKONG

Pinay jailed 27 months for theft, use of stolen credit cards

 

General area where theft was committed (Google Maps photo) 

An unemployed Filipina was sentenced to 27 months in jail today, after pleading guilty at District Court to theft of a mobile phone, a Rolex watch and a wallet, and six counts of fraud for using the credit cards she found in the wallet to go on a shopping spree, spending a total of $6,279.50 in one day.

Judge Ada Yim handed the sentence to Mylene Navarro, 48 years old, after the prosecution presented evidence against her, including a water bottle found inside the hotel room which bore her fingerprints, CCTV footages which showed her using the stolen credit cards to make purchases and her admission to police that she used the cards.

Navarro’s case began when she took a drunk Chinese man named Lau to Rainbow City Inn on Pitt St. in Yau Ma Tei in the early hours of  Nov. 23 last year and took his mobile phone, watch and wallet containing personal documents and cash of $2,000. Yau Ma Tei Police said the stolen items amounted to $96,095.50.

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The wallet contained, among other things, five credit cards that would enable her to commit the six fraud offenses.

The police complaint said Navarro first went to a Seven-11 store on Bowring Street and ran up a bill for $2,292.50 which she paid by using a credit card issued by the Standard Chartered bank to Lau.

She then used Lau’s credit card issued by Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. in buying $204 worth of products at a Seven-11 store on Jordan Road.

Basahin ang detalye!

Navarro then went to a Circle K store on Jordan Road and charged $1,204 worth of products to Lau’s Standard Chartered Bank Mastercard.

She again used the credit card in paying $138 for a meal at a McDonald’s restaurant on Yen Chow St. in Sham Shui Po.

Navarro used Lau’s HSBC Mastercard a fifth time when she bought $227 worth of items at another Seven-11 shop at the MTR Prince Edward station.

Finally she bought groceries at a Wellcome Store on Lai Chi Kok Road in Mong Kok, running up a bill for $2,214 which she charged to Lau’s American Express card.

World Hypertension Day marked

 

Adults who are overweight are more likely to suffer from hypertension

Nearly 30% of people aged 15 to 84 in Hong Kong has been found to have hypertension, according to a Population Health Survey conducted by the Department of Health between 2020 to 2022.

Worse, more than 40% of those with hypertension were unaware of their condition until they underwent the PHS health examination arranged by the DH.

Given these, the DH through the Centre for Health Protection again urged the public to pay closer to their blood pressure levels and adopt a healthy lifestyle, as World Hypertension Day was celebrated on Sunday, May 17.

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The CDC also called on everyone to take part in the Chronic Disease Co-Care Scheme mplemented by the Primary Health Care Commission “to achieve early prevention, early identification early treatment” of hypertension through screening and personalised management.

World Hypertension Day is marked to increase worldwide awareness of high blood pressure known as the “silent killer” because many patients do not show or experience any symptoms or severe discomfort.

The occasion is also meant to promote more accurate blood pressure measurements.

If left unchecked, uncontrolled or not properly treated, hypertension can lead to serious health problems such as stroke, heart attack, kidney failure or even death.

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In 2024 a total of 1,217 recorded deaths in Hong Kong were attributed to hypertensive heart disease, 45 to hypertensive renal disease and 28 to hypertensive heart and renal disease.

Adults are considered to be hypertensive if their systolic blood pressure is persistently higher than or equal to 140 millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and/or their diastolic blood pressure is persistently higher than or equal to 90 mmHg.

Everyone aged 18 and above is urged to measure their blood pressure at least once every two years. But some may require more frequent blood pressure testing depending on their blood pressure levels, age, overall cardiovascular risk profile and doctor's recommendation.

To prevent and control hypertension adults should reduce their salt intake (no more than 5 grams per day according to World Health recommendations), avoid drinking alcohol and smoking, and stay away from secondhand smoke as far as possible.

They should also engage in physical activities of moderate intensity for at least 150 to 300 minutes per week.

 

Modest consumer price increases forecast

 

Government Economist Irina Fan (center), presents the First Quarter Economic Report 2026 alongside Principal Economist Eric Lee and Asst Commissioner for Census and Statistics Edith Chan

Prices of consumer-bought products are expected to rise modestly during the next three quarters of the year as Hong Kong’s economy is expected to continue its robust growth, according to the government’s First Quarter Economic Report 2026.

 “Overall inflation in Hong Kong is expected to remain relatively well anchored, reflecting the city's low energy intensity as a predominantly service-oriented economy, with stable energy supplies from the Mainland helping to mitigate external shocks,” according to the report, presented by the Government Economist, Irina Fan.

Based on the previous quarter’s inflation situation, it estimated the consumer prices inching by 2.5% to 2.6%, up from estimates of 1.7% and 1.8% as announced in the government’s 2026 Budget.

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In the first quarter of 2026, consumer price inflation stayed modest though it picked up somewhat in March, mainly driven by fuel-related components amid higher international oil prices.

“Price pressures in other components were largely contained. The underlying Composite Consumer Price Index (Composite CPI) rose by 1.4% in the first quarter over a year earlier, following the 1.1% increase in the preceding quarter,” the report said.

“Including the effects of the Government's one-off relief measures, the headline Composite CPI increased by 1.6% year-on-year in the first quarter,” it added.

PINDUTIN ITO PARA SA DETALYE

In the past two months, the Government has introduced short-term, targeted measures to provide timely relief to sectors with relatively high fuel cost.

“The Government remains vigilant to the risks of further escalation of the conflict (in the Middle East), will closely monitor the developments, and will respond further as appropriate to safeguard price stability,” the report said.

Basahin ang detalye!

Other main points of the report:

＊ The Hong Kong economy expanded robustly in the first quarter of 2026, driven by the sustained strong performance in external trade and pick-up in domestic demand. Real GDP grew by 5.9% over a year earlier in the first quarter, accelerating from the 4.0% growth in the preceding quarter. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, real GDP rose notably by 2.9%.

＊ Total exports of goods grew markedly by 23.7% year-on-year in real terms in the first quarter, underpinned by sustained global demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-related electronic products and buoyant regional trade flows in Asia. Exports of services continued to expand solidly by 3.5% in real terms over a year earlier, with broad-based growth across all major service groups.

＊ Domestic demand strengthened across both consumption and investment. Private consumption expenditure saw accelerated growth of 4.9% year-on-year in real terms in the first quarter, reflecting the more entrenched recovery in households' spending. Overall investment expenditure continued to expand at a double-digit rate of 17.7% year-on-year in real terms in the first quarter, alongside the robust economic growth.

＊ The labour market showed modest improvement in the first quarter. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down further by 0.1 percentage point from the preceding quarter to 3.7% in the first quarter. The underemployment rate also decreased by 0.1 percentage point to 1.6%. Average employment earnings continued to record year-on-year growth in the first quarter.

Phl peso now down to 61.72 to USD

The peso has been dropping to historic lows since the latest Mideast row began at end of February

 The Philippine has again dropped to a new all-time low of 61.721 to the US dollar at the end of trading on Friday, May 15.

This came just a day after the peso plunged to a record low of 61.64 on Thursday.

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Malacanang said this showed that the greenback is strong, and not that the peso is weak.

The Palace also said that the global spike in oil prices amid continuing tensions in the Middle East was another big factor. Combined with the country’s dependence on imports, the local demand for dollars surged, further weakening the peso.

PINDUTIN ITO PARA SA DETALYE

Before the combined US and Israel attack on Iran at the end of February, the peso was gaining ground, strengthening to 57.665 on Feb 27, the last day of trading before the Middle East conflict.

Since then, it has dropped from one historic low to another.

Basahin ang detalye!

While the weaker peso has superficially boosted the spending capacity of OFWs, inflation has made it difficult for their families back in the Philippines to live on their former budget.

Recent data from the government showed inflation had hit 7.2 percent in April amid the continuing tension in the Middle East, and the consequent oil price increases.

PCG warns against Cora Wealths investment scheme

 

Cora Wealth investments are in USD (Facebook photo)

Filipinos in Hong Kong are being warned against putting money in an apparent pyramid-type investment scam called “Cora Wealths” which is purportedly based in the United States and promises a return of 10% per month on investments of at least US$1000.

According to a Facebook post by the Philippine Consulate General, people behind the “potentially fraudulent investment platform are targeting overseas Filipino workers and investors based in the Philippines.

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“To lure investors, Cora Wealths has engaged several OFWs as recruiting agents and team leaders who are promising commissions based on the number of people enticed to join the investment,” said the PCG.

Documents shown to the PCG by complainants indicated that Cora Wealths appears to operate as a pyramiding scheme where the payouts to earlier investors is derived from the money put in by succeeding investors or victims.

PINDUTIN ITO PARA SA DETALYE

Cora Wealths reportedly claims to engage in real estate investment but has no valid registration to sell securities in the Philippines or in Hong Kong, said the PCG.

Filipinos are reminded that the sale and trading of securities in Hong Kong require a license from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong.

Basahin ang detalye!

To check the list of corporations and individuals licensed to trade in securities, please click on this link: https://www.sfc.hk/en/Regulatory-functions/Intermediaries/Licensing/Register-of-licensed-persons-and-registered-institutions

In the Philippines the sale and trade of securities is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and would need either a secondary licence for corporations or registration as individual broker or dealer. To check if a broker is licensed, click here: https://checkwithsec.sec.gov.ph/check-with-sec/index

The PCG reiterated the warning that investments that promise a very high yield of return in just a short time is highly likely to be fraudulent.

To view the PCG’s Facebook post with this warning, please go to: https://web.facebook.com/share/p/18wayUAmHW/ 

35 ex-DHs with failed non-refoulement claims sent home

 

Immigration officers escort ex-DHs in boarding flights at airport 

Thirty-five former foreign domestic helpers, among them a number of Filipinos, have been repatriated to their places of origin after failing to prove their non-refoulement claims and subsequent appeals in the High Court.

A number of those repatriated from May 13 to May 15 included those who had committed criminal offences, sent to jail and had completed their sentences.

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 “The ImmD is very concerned about the abuse of the non-refoulement claim mechanism and is aware that a number of claimants were former foreign domestic helpers,” it said in a press statement. “The ImmD has been co-operating with the relevant consulates-general in Hong Kong and will continue such co-operation to step up publicity and education for newly arriving foreign domestic helpers to help them understand that they should not abuse the non-refoulement claim mechanism.”

PINDUTIN ITO PARA SA DETALYE

Under the updated removal policy effective from December 7, 2022, the ImmD may generally proceed with the removal of a claimant whose judicial review case has been dismissed by the Court of First Instance of the High Court to speed up the process.

“The ImmD will continue to explore different feasible solutions to expedite the repatriation of unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants, and will actively co-ordinate with relevant authorities to optimize repatriation routes and the operation process,” it said.

Basahin ang detalye!

“The ImmD will actively maintain close liaison with governments of major source countries of non-refoulement claimants, airline companies and other government departments to repatriate unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants from Hong Kong as soon as practicable through all appropriate measures,” it added.

General holidays for 2027 published

The following list of general holidays for 2027 is gazetted today (May 15) for public information:

• Every Sunday
• The first day of January: January 1, Friday
• Lunar New Year's Day: February 6, Saturday
• The third day of Lunar New Year: February 8, Monday
• The fourth day of Lunar New Year: February 9, Tuesday

• Good Friday: March 26, Friday
• The day following Good Friday: March 27, Saturday
• Easter Monday: March 29, Monday
• Ching Ming Festival: April 5, Monday
• Labour Day: May 1, Saturday
• The Birthday of the Buddha: May 13, Thursday

• Tuen Ng Festival: June 9, Wednesday
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day: July 1, Thursday
• The day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival: September 16, Thursday
• National Day: October 1, Friday
• Chung Yeung Festival: October 8, Friday
• Christmas Day: December 25, Saturday
• The first weekday after Christmas Day: December 27, Monday

A Government spokesman said, "As the second day of Lunar New Year in 2027 falls on a Sunday, the fourth day of Lunar New Year will be designated as a general holiday in substitution."

16 arrested in anti-illegal worker raids

 

Immigration officers escort one of those arrested

The Immigration Department (ImmD) arrested 16 persons in a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations on May 8 to 14.

Ten suspected illegal workers and six suspected employers were arrested in the anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Twilight". 

The arrested workers comprised eight men and two women, aged 30 to 65. Among them, a man was holding a recognizance form which prohibits him from taking any employment.

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Investigators raided multiple target locations, including restaurants, flats under renovation and grocery stores, arresting three men and three women, aged 28 to 61, suspected of employing the illegal workers.

An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

Basahin ang detalye!

“Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are victims of trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labor,” the spokesman said.

“Identified TIP and/or forced labor victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services,” the spokesman added.