PH orders emergency evacuation of Filipinos in Lebanon

The Philippine government today on Wednesday (25/09/2024) announced that it is enforcing mandatory evacuation of Filipino workers in Lebanon amid heightened tensions in the country.

Alert Level 4 is expected which is the highest security warning given by the Philippines on countries that pose security risks to Filipino travelers and workers due to armed conflict or disaster, as Isr**l fired more rockets at lebanon residentail areas killing 500 people this week.

What is Alert level 4?

Under alert level 4, all Filipinos are asked to leave and join the ongoing evacuation being offered by the Philippine government.

Filipinos staying in Lebanon have been advised to leave the Middle East country as early as possible as tension escalates due to the threat of an all-out war between the Iran-backed group Hezb****h and Isr**l.

The Philippine government has repeatedly called on families of Filipinos in Lebanon to convince their loved ones to volunteer for repatriation as tensions continue to escalate.

The country's Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) also issued an announcement today, renewing its appeal for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Lebanon to evacuate amid escalating tensions.

“Call your relatives and force them to go home. It would be a big help if their relatives here in the Philippines will be the ones to convince them to evacuate Lebanon, leave immediately and come home,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Robert Ferrer said in a televised media briefing.

"Many of the 15,000 Filipinos there are opposed to mandatory evacuation by the government," the DFA official added.

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“Filipinos in Lebanon are assured that the Philippine government would repatriate any Filipino who may be affected or displaced by the ongoing Middle East tension,”

Affected Filipinos requesting repatriation or any other form of assistance may contact the Philippine embassy in Lebanon.

In view of the current security situation, Filipinos there were advised “to remain vigilant, exercise caution and maintain situational awareness at all times.”

So far, over 500 Filipinos have already returned to the Philippines, with over 1,000 more still being processed for return, according to reports.