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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 131 Pinoys have left Gaza City—DFA

131 Pinoys have left Gaza City—DFA

Published Oct 15, 2023 06:59 am

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Sunday, Oct. 15, that 131 Filipinos have already left Gaza City as the Philippine government works to bring them back home amid the violence that erupted between Israel and militant group Hamas.

Gaza.jpgSmoke billows from the Gaza's Rafah border crossing Egypt during an Israeli airstrike on October 10, 2023. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP)

In a statement, the DFA said that 78 of the 131 Filipinos “are now situated near the Rafah border crossing near Egypt.”

The remaining 53 have also “left northern Gaza or Gaza City, which is expected to be the main site for hostilities.”

“The Philippine government continues to work on the repatriation of our nationals and will provide updates on developments,” DFA said.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said the 131 Filipinos are now "out of the most dangerous areas in Gaza."

De Vega explained those who have left Gaza City or northern Gaza are still "somewhere in southern Gaza as Egypt continues to disallow foreign nationals from entering the border."

On Sunday, the DFA announced the crisis alert level in Gaza has been raised to 4, imposing a mandatory repatriation of Filipinos there.

Previously, the agency said there were 137 Filipinos in Gaza. They are mostly Filipinos married to Palestinians and minor children.

On Friday, Oct. 13, the DFA disclosed also that at least eight overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are set to leave Israel on Oct. 16 as part of the efforts of the administration of President Marcos to bring them to safety amid the ongoing conflict.

De Vega earlier said that 22 Filipinos from Israel have expressed their intention to go home.

Their repatriation will be shouldered by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Although the situation in Israel is more stable than in Gaza, the DFA advised against traveling to the conflict-torn country.

“The situation in Israel is not a big problem if it refers to the evacuation of nationals because the situation there is more stable and we’re ready to repatriate them and we don’t expect big numbers,” De Vega earlier said in a Palace media briefing.

Three Filipinos have already died due to the violence.

The repatriation of Filipinos came after Israel announced it is activating a ground offensive against the Hamas group, and has given those in Gaza a deadline to evacuate the city.

It has been more than a week since the Palestine militant group Hamas struck Israel with a barrage of air, sea, and ground rockets.

Israel retaliation cut off electricity, water, and food in Gaza, and warned 1.1 million people living in northern Gaza to evacuate their homes.

Local and foreign nationals have been taken hostage by Hamas as world leaders scramble to get their citizens out of the strife-torn Israel and Palestine.

Related Tags

Israel Department of Foreign Affairs Repatriation Gaza Hamas attack Eduardo De Vega
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