DFA starts evacuation of Filipinos in Libya

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs Thursday said that it has started the evacuation of Filipinos from Tripoli, following the escalation of fighting in the outskirts of the Libyan capital.

“The first batch of seven Filipinos—three hospital workers and four students—were evacuated by the Philippine Embassy this morning to Tunisia where they will be repatriated to the Philippines,” the DFA said in a release.

The repatriation came after the Foreign Affairs department raised the alert level in Libya to Level III, which means voluntary repatriation.

READ: DFA calls on Filipinos in Libya to consider repatriation amid clashes

The coverage of the raised alert level includes Tajoura, Ghot Romman, Qaraboli and Qasr Khiyar in the east; Esbea, Tarhuna, Bani Waled and Gharyan in the south; Aziziya, Warshifana, Zawia, Surman and Sabratha in the west.

The DFA shouldered the cost of repatriating the four students, while the Overseas Workers Welfare Association would pay the airfare of the three hospital employees.

“The Embassy is being assisted by augmentation teams from the Office of Migrant Workers Affairs stationed in Tripoli and in Tunis led by Executive Director Enrico Fos and Director Iric Arribas,” the department added.

Embassy Charge d’Affaires Elmer Cato added that there are 13 more Filipinos who have requested assistance for repatriation as they are expected to be evacuated to Tunis in the coming days.

Cato however said that, despite the embassy’s efforts to convince them to go home, only 20 out of the estimated 1,000 Filipinos in the Libyan capital have so far requested repatriation.

The Department of Labor and Employment said last week that it would issue a deployment ban of Filipino workers to Libya once it receives an official notice from the DFA. — Kristine Joy Patag