The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said 41 more Filipinos from Gaza arrived in the Philippines on Sunday, and 14 others are expected to follow.
This is part of the government’s repatriation efforts in the war-torn Palestinian territory after the first batch of 35 Filipinos arrived in Manila on Friday afternoon.
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega also called on the remaining Filipinos there to leave and take advantage of the current border opening as the situation there has deteriorated amid the Israel-Hamas war.
“The condition now in Gaza is very bad, so it’s better if you respond to our call for mandatory repatriation and take advantage of the border crossing, which is still open,” de Vega, who is currently in Cairo, said in an interview with GMA News.
“We hope in the next few days, you cross the border,” he added, as the Rafah border between Gaza and Egypt is only being opened for a certain period of time as war continues.
From the original 137 Filipinos in Gaza, there are now about 39 remaining.
On Nov. 1, two Filipino members of the humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders managed to leave during the first border opening. They did not go back to the Philippines as they would be deployed to a different country.
During the second border opening, 40 Filipinos exited Gaza. Thirty-five were repatriated Nov. 10—the first batch to arrive in Manila—while five decided to stay in Egypt.
The DFA also said that the next group of those who crossed the border were composed of 56 Filipinos. Forty-one of them formed the second batch of repatriates who arrived in Manila on Sunday night, while one decided to stay in Egypt and 14 returned again to Gaza.
De Vega said the 14 returned because their Palestinian spouses were not given security clearance to leave.
And on Monday, Nov. 13, the DFA reported that the fourth batch composed of 14 Filipinos exited Gaza.
“The embassy team at the Egyptian side of the border, led by Vice Consul Bojer B. Capati, assisted the Filipinos and coordinated with the Egyptian border authorities. This was made possible through the assistance of the Egyptian Government and the close coordination with the Philippine Embassies in Amman, Jordan and Tel Aviv, Israel,” DFA said in a statement.
“As soon as they reach Cairo, the third batch of Filipinos from Gaza will be provided accommodations and after some rest they will soon head home,” it added.
