E/CN.4/2003/85/Add.4 page 17 qualified personnel to provide psychological and medical assistance to women victims of violence. POEA informed the Special Rapporteur that the Government had pledged US$ 500,000 for women doctors, lawyers and social workers to be sent abroad to assist OFWs in distress. 59. In 1997, the Government of Malaysia started to implement its Immigration Act strictly. This adversely affected thousands of undocumented Filipino workers who had established residence in Sabah. 60. During her visit to Zamboanga, the Special Rapporteur was informed that 6,962 Filipinos had been deported from Malaysia between February and April 2002 and that the Government of Malaysia was expected to deport 30,000 undocumented Filipinos by June 2002. DSWD, in cooperation with the city government and local NGOs, had extended assistance to the deportees in terms of food, shelter, medical assistance, counselling and referral to the appropriate government units. Transportation was provided for by the central Government. Many of the deportees came from the autonomous region of Mindanao and had no labour and employment documents. Minors reportedly were kept in Zamboanga until their families were found. The Police Southern Command and the city government have formed a repatriation task force that includes an emergency medical team. The Special Rapporteur was impressed by the valuable work carried out by local NGOs. 61. Deportees interviewed by the Special Rapporteur reported that they were detained from one to five months, received little food and water, had no access to doctors and medicines and were allowed out of their cells only for a few minutes a day. There were also reports of mistreatment by Malaysian authorities. Casualties were reported during the deportation: on 12 April two children, 2 and 10 years old, died from cardio-pulmonary arrest; on 24 April a woman gave birth prematurely and her child died. V. REINTEGRATION 62. The Special Rapporteur learned that upon their return, OFWs often have no savings and few chances to find employment. Many are forced to return to the Philippines prematurely, owing to contractual violations or abuse, deportation as a result of war or changes in immigration laws, illegal termination of contracts or illness, and many still have debts in connection with their deployment. POEA reported that 70-80 per cent of OFWs are unable to save enough money for their eventual return. The Re-placement and Monitoring Center run by the Department of Labour and Employment should provide a mechanism for the reintegration of returning OFWs. However, only a very small percentage of returnees find employment through the Center, which serves more as a referring body.7 63. Migrants interviewed by the Special Rapporteur and NGOs stressed that reintegration in the family is not easy: not infrequently spouses/partners have begun new relationships and children have suffered psychological problems because of absence of the parent. Dependency on migrant workers’ incomes has grown and families often do not engage in alternative income-generating activities. If the returnee finds a job, the wages are usually not enough to