PH Embassy in Tripoli Repatriates More Filipinos

As fighting continues to rage in the outskirts of Tripoli, the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli repatriated another seven Filipinos from the Libyan capital on 26 December 2019.

The group, comprised of five adults and two minors, is the 13th batch to be repatriated since the latest conflict in Tripoli broke out eight months ago. This brings to 149 the total number of Filipinos from Tripoli and surrounding areas who were assisted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment in returning to the Philippines since April.

Chargè d’Affaires Elmer G. Cato said the repatriates will first be flown to Tunis from where they will take their connecting flight to Manila via Doha. Chargè d’Affaires Cato, at the same time, reiterated the Embassy’s appeal for Filipinos, particularly those staying in areas near where the fighting has been taking place, to relocate as soon as possible in anticipation of further escalation of hostilities.

There are still more than 1,000 Filipinos—most of whom are nurses and hospital workers and their dependents—staying in Tripoli and surrounding areas that have been placed under Alert Level IV seven months ago.

Only around 10 percent have so far availed themselves of the government’s repatriation offer while several displaced by the fighting have been provided temporary shelter by the Embassy. (DFA PR)