PHL Embassy in Libya Evacuates Non-Core Staff to Tunisia due to Security Risks

Manila (PNA) — The Philippine Embassy in Libya has evacuated all its non-core staff to neighboring Tunisia due to increasing violence and lawlessness in the Libyan capital of Tripoli, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.

Such move indicates the Philippine government’s serious concern on the deteriorating security in the North African nation where at least 13,000 Filipinos are working. Libya is currently grappling with months of civil unrest and armed conflict.

This month, Manila ordered the mass evacuation of Filipinos – most of whom employed as medical staff and construction workers.

A DFA statement said staff dependents of embassy personnel were repatriated last week.

“Male officers and staff augmented by the Rapid Response Teams remain in Tripoli to oversee overseas Filipino workers repatriation under Alert Level 4 which calls for mandatory evacuation,” the DFA said.

Philippine officials in Libya continues to strongly urge Filipinos to enlist for evacuation before all routes and options become extremely difficult, the DFA said. (PNA) FPV/DFA/JSD