DFA urged to evacuate Pinoys in Lebanon

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Marlowe Miranda is urging the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to impose Alert Level 4 or a mandatory evacuation amid ongoing bombing strikes by Israeli jets on Beirut, which are endangering the lives of around 15,000 Filipino domestic helpers and their dependents.

In a recent interview on ABS-CBN, Miranda said the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in parts of Lebanon – especially in Southern Lebanon where millions of Lebanese have fled to Beirut – is alarming, as Israel has occupied parts of Lebanon to demolish Hezbollah strongholds, which resulted in more than 2,000 deaths and thousands more injured.

Migrant expert Manny Geslani said Filipino domestic helpers in Beirut have escaped the numerous bomb and rocket attacks by Israel so far, but Miranda fears the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah – a known militia proxy of Iran – will escalate as rockets continue to rain on Beirut.

Miranda is recommending Alert Level 4 for the DFA and Department of Migrant Workers to start repatriating Filipinos while airport and land routes to Syria are still open.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul said a third batch of 10 Filipino repatriates departed Istanbul on April 7 on their way back to Manila via Bangkok. — Pia Lee-Brago