Filipinos in Israel told to stay in protected areas
The United Nations and China expressed alarm over the “broadening conflict” in the Middl East as Filipinos in Israel were advised to enter “protected areas” after Iran launched a massive missile attack on Tuesday, firing what it said were 200 missiles.
The Philippine embassy in Tel Aviv issued the advisory following the rules set by the Israeli Home Front Command after Iran used hypersonic weapons that sent civilians into shelters and prompted several countries in the region to shut their airspace.
The HFC placed several areas, including North and South Golan, under Orange Alert, which limits outdoor and indoor gatherings as well as work activities to areas where people can immediately reach protected spaces and shelters. The alert level also bars all educational activities.
The advisory will be in effect until Saturday evening, the HFC said.
UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned the “broadening conflict in the Middle East,” slamming “escalation after escalation” in the region.
“This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire,” said Guterres.
China urged world powers on Wednesday to prevent the situation in the Middle East from “further deteriorating.”
“The Chinese side calls on the international community, especially major influential powers, to truly play a constructive role and prevent the situation from further deteriorating,” a foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement.
“The Chinese side is deeply concerned about the turmoil in the Middle East,” the online statement said.
Israel has vowed to make Iran “pay” for firing a barrage of missiles at its territory and warned on Wednesday it would launch an even bigger attack if it is targeted.
Israel also declared Guterres “persona non grata” on Wednesday, accusing him of failing to specifically condemn Iran’s missile attack.
“Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil,” said Foreign Minister Israel Katz in a statement.
No Filipinos were hurt after Iran’s attack on Israel, the Department of Migrant Workers said yesterday.
“We have no problem in Israel because they have what we call bomb shelters,” DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said in a Palace press briefing.
After the missile attack, Israel bombarded Lebanese strongholds of Iran ally Hezbollah, with heavy strikes early Wednesday on south Beirut.
Israel shifted its focus last month from its war in Gaza, which was sparked by Iran-backed Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, to securing its northern border with Lebanon.
The DMW earlier halted the deployment of Filipino workers to Lebanon, which was placed under Alert Level 3 as Israel continued to purge Hezbollah forces.
As this developed, the government is arranging chartered flights for the repatriation of more than 200 overseas Filipino workers in Beirut.
“We’re talking to airline companies so that the chartered flights would be able to accommodate, for example, no less than 300 overseas Filipino workers from Beirut,” Olalia said.
This was after the scheduled repatriation flight of around 15 OFWs on Sept. 25 were cancelled because of the recent bombings in Beirut.
Olalia said around 111 OFWs are staying in four temporary shelters in Beirut and waiting for their repatriation.
An additional 110 OFWs are applying for exit permits from the Lebanese government, he said.
“Apart from the documented OFWs, we have undocumented OFWs who need to secure travel documents and once they’re given travel documents, we will help them in securing also exit visas or exit permits from the Immigration of the Lebanese government,” Olalia said.
Olalia, however, amitted the Philippine government is facing several challenges, including securing landing rights for chartered flights.
He said land and sea routes are being considered in case the situation escalates and makes it “impossible” to take the air route.
“The DMW is also studying the possibility of other routes. Apart from air route, we will be assessing the sea and the land route, should the case or the situation there worsen,” Olalia said.
He said each repatriated OFW will get P150,000 in financial assistance from the DMW and OWWA, as well as psychosocial services.
A total of 430 OFWs and 28 dependents have been repatriated from Lebanon so far. With AFP
