The first batch of Filipinos to be repatriated from Lebanon is scheduled to leave the conflict-torn country on Friday (October 11), Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac.
“We are arranging for the return of at least almost 200 within this month, both on commercial flights,” Cacdac told Manila Standard.
“But also we are sheltering around also nearly 200 in three different shelters across Lebanon in Beirut. So we’re hoping to also bring them home,” he added.
The repatriation of Filipinos will be done through nine different flights, with the first batch set to depart on October 11.
Cacdac said priority will be given to those who are medically ill.
He said all Filipinos in southern Lebanon, where the conflict is most intense, have already left the area and there was a “growing interest” in applying for repatriation.
“We have the Department of Foreign Affairs helping us assess the political and security situation. It’s Alert Level 3, after all, which means they could be voluntarily repatriated. We are closely monitoring the situation on the ground with the DFA,” Cacdac said.
Outbound flights were previously canceled due to the recent massive attacks in Beirut, the DMW said.
The DFA previously said it will not be raising the alert level in Lebanon anytime soon.
Alert Level 4 or mandatory evacuation is only declared in case of a large-scale internal conflict or if the host country has suffered a full-blown external attack.
For Filipinos unable to leave because their employers refuse to release their passports, DFA Undersecretary for Migration Eduardo Jose De Vega urged them to seek immediate assistance from the Philippine Embassy in Beirut.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “DMW: First batch of Filipinos set for repatriation from Lebanon on Friday.”
