The possibly last batch of Filipinos to be repatriated from Gaza will arrive in Manila on Wednesday, Nov. 15, after a series of efforts conducted by the Philippine government in the war-torn Palestinian territory.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said 13 Filipino nationals, including seven minors, will form the fourth or the last batch of those coming home on Nov. 15. They will be accompanied by six Palestinian spouses.
The fourth batch followed the arrival of the third batch of repatriates, composed of 14 Filipinos, who were welcomed to Manila on Tuesday, Nov. 14. They were also joined by six Palestinian spouses.
"So two consecutive days of arrivals," De Vega said.
That brought the total number of Filipinos who were already repatriated by the government from the besieged territory to 103. There were 137 Filipinos in Gaza when the war between Israel and Hamas broke out.
The remaining Filipinos who have not come to the Philippines are either still in Gaza or have decided to remain in Egypt due to various reasons, including staying with their Egyptian families or taking care of their relatives in need of medical assistance.
On Nov. 10, the first batch of 35 Filipino repatriates arrived in Manila after crossing to Egypt during the brief border opening of Gaza.
They were followed by the second batch that was composed of 41 Filipinos who arrived in the country on Nov. 12.
Two Filipino members of Doctors Without Borders had also earlier managed to flee from the war during the first ever border opening that allowed the crossing of humanitarian workers and those injured. The two Filipino medical workers did not return to Manila as they were deployed to other countries.
De Vega recently called on the remaining Filipinos in Gaza to be repatriated as the situation there was worsening.
"Napakasama na ng condition ngayon sa Gaza, kaya mabuti pa'y tugunan ninyo ang pananawagan namin na mandatory repatriation, at pagsamantalahan na habang ngayon, bukas pa ang border crossing (The condition now in Gaza is very bad, so it's better if you respond to our call for mandatory repatriation and take advantage of the border crossing, which is still opened)," De Vega, who was in Cairo, said in a recent interview with GMA News.
"We hope na (that) in the next few days, tumawid kayo (you cross the border)," he added as the Rafah border between Gaza and Egypt is only being opened for a certain period of time as war continues.