Filipinos urged to evacuate Lebanon amid escalating tensions | ABS-CBN
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Filipinos urged to evacuate Lebanon amid escalating tensions
Filipinos urged to evacuate Lebanon amid escalating tensions
A man riding a moped flashes the V-sign for victory as he drives past a poster of assassinated Hezbollah top commander Fuad Shukr, the day after his funeral, erected along the Sidon-to-Tyre highway, in southern Lebanon on August 2, 2024. Mahmoud Zayat, AFP/file
A man riding a moped flashes the V-sign for victory as he drives past a poster of assassinated Hezbollah top commander Fuad Shukr, the day after his funeral, erected along the Sidon-to-Tyre highway, in southern Lebanon on August 2, 2024. Mahmoud Zayat, AFP/fileMANILA -- The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon on Saturday urged Filipinos to evacuate the country while airports remain open, as tensions continue and uncertainty looms over future developments.
MANILA -- The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon on Saturday urged Filipinos to evacuate the country while airports remain open, as tensions continue and uncertainty looms over future developments.
The call for evacuation comes as the conflict between Hezbollah and Israeli forces intensifies.
The call for evacuation comes as the conflict between Hezbollah and Israeli forces intensifies.
The Embassy’s notice highlights the need for Filipinos to leave Lebanon amid escalating hostilities. Currently, Beirut is under Alert Level 3, indicating that repatriation is available but voluntary.
The Embassy’s notice highlights the need for Filipinos to leave Lebanon amid escalating hostilities. Currently, Beirut is under Alert Level 3, indicating that repatriation is available but voluntary.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the alert level is not expected to be raised further at this time, and the situation in Beirut remains calm for now.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the alert level is not expected to be raised further at this time, and the situation in Beirut remains calm for now.
"Right now, what the ambassador is saying is we can't raise it yet, because if we raise now the Filipinos won't be exactly going home. Because while the situation is quite tense, for most of Lebanon there is no exact violence going on. The attacks of Israel are concentrated in the southern parts near the border where upper... are based. So there is a tendency for Filipinos throughout Lebanon to not be worried about it," DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said.
"Right now, what the ambassador is saying is we can't raise it yet, because if we raise now the Filipinos won't be exactly going home. Because while the situation is quite tense, for most of Lebanon there is no exact violence going on. The attacks of Israel are concentrated in the southern parts near the border where upper... are based. So there is a tendency for Filipinos throughout Lebanon to not be worried about it," DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said.
As of now, 738 Filipinos have requested to return to the Philippines. To date, 356 have already been repatriated. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reports that over 11,000 Filipinos are currently in Lebanon.
As of now, 738 Filipinos have requested to return to the Philippines. To date, 356 have already been repatriated. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reports that over 11,000 Filipinos are currently in Lebanon.
"Kaninang umaga lang may dumating na 13, kasama ang tatlong anak dependent from Beirut and there are around 45 who are pending repatriation… We are of course proving repatriation and welfare assistance on the ground together with DFA, DMW and the OWWA," said DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac.
"Kaninang umaga lang may dumating na 13, kasama ang tatlong anak dependent from Beirut and there are around 45 who are pending repatriation… We are of course proving repatriation and welfare assistance on the ground together with DFA, DMW and the OWWA," said DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac.
Cacdac added that no Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are residing near the conflict zones where fighting between the Israeli Defense Forces and Hezbollah is taking place.
Cacdac added that no Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are residing near the conflict zones where fighting between the Israeli Defense Forces and Hezbollah is taking place.
"Ang pinag uusapan kasi nating area dito ay yung southern part where the tension is high. That's bordering northern Israel. Dun sa mismong border town, walang Pilipino. Kung saan mismo may current exchange of fire walang Pilipino doon. But dun sa southern cities meron," he said.
"Ang pinag uusapan kasi nating area dito ay yung southern part where the tension is high. That's bordering northern Israel. Dun sa mismong border town, walang Pilipino. Kung saan mismo may current exchange of fire walang Pilipino doon. But dun sa southern cities meron," he said.
The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon is preparing evacuation routes in case the situation escalates to Alert Level 4 or mandatory repatriation.
The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon is preparing evacuation routes in case the situation escalates to Alert Level 4 or mandatory repatriation.
Agencies in the Philippines are ready to offer onsite, repatriation, and arrival assistance for returning Filipinos.
Agencies in the Philippines are ready to offer onsite, repatriation, and arrival assistance for returning Filipinos.
The cross-border violence between Lebanon and Israel has killed 580 people in Lebanon, mostly Hezbollah fighters but including at least 128 civilians, according to an AFP tally.
The cross-border violence between Lebanon and Israel has killed 580 people in Lebanon, mostly Hezbollah fighters but including at least 128 civilians, according to an AFP tally.
On the Israeli side, including in the annexed Golan Heights, 22 soldiers and 26 civilians have been killed, according to army figures.
On the Israeli side, including in the annexed Golan Heights, 22 soldiers and 26 civilians have been killed, according to army figures.
Hezbollah and Israel fought a war in 2006. -- with Agence France-Presse
Hezbollah and Israel fought a war in 2006. -- with Agence France-Presse
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