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Nearly 3 dozen Filipinos leave homes in Libya amid hostilities
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday called on Filipinos living near the frontlines “to evacuate their homes or request repatriation”.
(File Photo By Patrick Roque, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
MANILA — More than 30 Filipinos have evacuated their homes since fighting reached some populated areas of Tripoli last week, the Philippine embassy in Libya reported.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday called on Filipinos living near the frontlines “to evacuate their homes or request repatriation”.
Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Elmer Cato said five nurses fled a housing compound in Tarik Shuk District after it was struck by an artillery shell on January 8.
On the same day, an artillery shell exploded just behind a clinic in Salahuddin District where eight nurses, who were rescued by the embassy last week, were working.
Cato reported that a rocket also hit a hospital on January 10 where 31 Filipino nurses and their dependents are working. The 31 are safe and none has requested to be repatriated.
At present, there are still around 400 Filipino workers and dependents living in several areas near where the fighting is taking place.
Cato advised them to relocate as soon as possible to avoid becoming collateral damage.
Meanwhile, he assured that the embassy is ready to provide temporary shelter to those who are displaced.
Since the start of the year, the embassy has helped 11 Filipinos in getting repatriated.
