President Marcos has urged Filipinos in Lebanon and Israel to return to the country while flights are still available amid the tensions in the Middle East.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/8/pbbm-urges-pinoys-in-lebanon-israel-to-go-home
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/8/pbbm-urges-pinoys-in-lebanon-israel-to-go-home
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NewsTranscript
00:00As we speak, I think of our Filipino Kababayan who are affected by the increasing tensions in the Middle East.
00:08I wish to reassure the public that the Philippine government is doing everything it can
00:14to ensure the safety of over 40,000 Filipino nationals in Lebanon and in Israel
00:21and to bring them home so that they have a place that they can feel safe in
00:27so long as they ask to come home.
00:30I am glad to report that no Filipino has been reported injured in the crisis that we hear about in the news
00:39and to the waves of attacks against Hezbollah targets in the past few days
00:44and the consequent Iranian reprisal against Israel.
00:48Our embassies have been coordinating with the Filipino community on this matter
00:53and working on securing exit papers and transportation for those returning.
01:01Of the 1,500 initial applicants for repatriation from Lebanon,
01:08a third have already gone home while another third, around 500, are still having their papers processed.
01:17The DFA will expedite this and OAH will be chartering the flights to bring them home.
01:24For the month of October, the DMW and OAH will be bringing home at least 162 distressed OFWs from Israel.
01:35Once they return to the Philippines, the DMW and OAH are ready to provide assistance to them.
01:42To our fellow countrymen in Lebanon and Israel,
01:45our government is ready to meet your needs.
01:51We hope that you will avail yourselves of our repatriation program while flights are available.
01:57In the meantime, heed the advisories of the Philippine Embassy and the Lebanese and Israeli governments.
02:05I expect the Secretaries of the DFA and the DMW and the Administrator of OAH to report to me with updates daily.
02:15The Philippines urges all parties to refrain from escalating the violence
02:20and to work towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
02:24We emphasize the need to adhere to international humanitarian law,
02:29especially the principles of proportionality and distinction in response to security threats
02:36and to ensure the protection of civilians at all times.
02:41The Philippines will always stand for the principles of international law
02:45and the safety of Filipinos in the Philippines and overseas.
02:59For more UN videos visit www.un.org