THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Saturday said no Filipino was hurt in two air raids conducted by the Israeli army in Beirut on Thursday.
The strike, described as the deadliest so far in the fight between Israel and Hezbollah, hit densely populated areas, resulting in 22 fatalities and 117 injuries.
“At present, we haven’t heard any Filipino hurt in the attacks in Lebanon, whether in southern Lebanon or in Beirut,” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in an interview on the sidelines of the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
A man stands on the rubble of a building that was targeted in an Israeli military strike on 11 October, in Baysarieh village, Sidon, Lebanon, 12 October 2024. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, at least five people were killed in the Israeli strike on Baysarieh. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, more than 2,100 people have been killed and over 10,000 others have been injured in Lebanon since Israel expanded its military operations to Lebanon in September 2024. EPA-EFE/STRINGER
“By God’s mercy, we hope that it will stay that way,” he added.
In an October 12 advisory, the Philippine Embassy in Beirut said the latest air strikes “heighten concerns” for civilian safety amid ongoing military operations.
It advised all Filipino nationals in Beirut to avoid affected areas, particularly Ras al-Nabaa and Noueiri.
Cacdac said most of the 11,000 Filipinos in Lebanon reside and work in the capital city.
About 570 have expressed their interest to voluntarily leave Lebanon, 221 of whom have already secured flights from October 12 to 28.
The exit papers of the remaining 350 were being processed by the Philippine Embassy.
Cacdac said at least 178 Filipinos were housed in shelters and hotels across Lebanon.
Safe return
The DMW and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said 154 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon were repatriated on Friday and Saturday.
Each repatriate received a cash aid of P150,000 from the DMW and OWWA upon their arrival. The government shouldered all their expenses during transit, including food and accommodation.
All repatriates would also get P20,000 worth of livelihood assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, as well as skills training vouchers from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
The DMW said 442 OFWs have returned to the country from Lebanon since October last year due to the worsening unrest in the Middle East.
“The repatriation of this batch brings to a total of 442 OFWs with 28 dependents who have safely returned from Lebanon since October 2023 due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas,” the DMW said in a Facebook post on Saturday.
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