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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider AFP gears up for evacuation of overseas Filipinos amid Israel-Hamas war

AFP gears up for evacuation of overseas Filipinos amid Israel-Hamas war

Published Oct 11, 2023 06:18 am
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AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar (Courtesy of RTVM livestream screenshot)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will deploy military transport planes to fetch overseas Filipinos who were affected by the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group, Hamas.

AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said two C-130 and one C-295 aircraft were placed on standby and ready for deployment should the Philippine government needs the military to bring home distressed overseas Filipinos in the conflict area.

"The Armed Forces of the Philippines is prepared to execute evacuation operation should there be a need for that and we already came out with a plan on how to do it. This will be a whole-of-nation approach because what is important for us is the safety of our countrymen," Aguilar said in a televised press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday, Oct. 11.

According to Aguilar, the AFP will send the aircraft to two identified "airports of embarkation" where the overseas Filipinos could gather and be fetched. These are the Haifa Airport in Haifa, Israel and Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel.

From there, the overseas Filipinos will be transported to a designated "temporary safe haven" at the Adana Sakirpasa Airport in Adana, Turkey before they are brought home to the Philippines, the military spokesperson continued.

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The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) identifies Adana Airport in Turkey as a "temporary safe haven" and Ben Gurion Airport in Israel as one of two "airports of embarkation" in its plan to evacuate distressed overseas Filipinos amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. (Courtesy of RTVM livestream screenshot)

"But all of these will only be executed based on the recommendation or instruction coming from other government authorities," Aguilar noted.

Authorities confirmed that at least two Filipinos have been killed amid the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and the Hamas group.

Data from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that there were more than 30,000 Filipinos in Israel and over 100 in the Gaza Strip.

Related Tags

Armed Forces of the Philippines Medel Aguilar ISRAEL-HAMAS
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