The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has formally requested government officials from Israel and Egypt for the establishment of “humanitarian corridors” that will allow Filipinos to leave war-stricken areas in Israel and Gaza.
“Time is of the essence. Our embassies are ready to bring their team to the border.” Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in a press conference.
“We asked our diplomats to put up a humanitarian door that can be opened to allow people to exit through RAFA border with Egypt,” relates de Vega, while emphasizing has laid out repatriation plans for beleagured Filipinos in Gaza.
De Vega said from the 131 Filipinos who are currently in Gaza, 92 of them have already expressed their desire to return to the Philippines following the escalation of hostilities in some parts of Israel and Gaza.
In Israel, at least 22 Filipinos have informed the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv on their willingness to return to the Philippines to escape the horrors of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
However, de Vega foresees a major issue that may arise during the repatriation mission: “Some of the spouses of Filipinos are Palestinians. We cannot guarantee what Israel and Egypt will decide. So, it will be a difficult decision like what happened in Ukraine,” according to the DFA official.
“If a Filipino woman will may have to leave, she would have to leave without her husband and go to the Philippines with their kids. But not with the husband,” according to de Vega.
He also assured that the overseas Filipino workers (OFW), who will be returning to their country from the Israel and Gaza in the coming days, are entitled to different assistance packages from government authorities, particularly from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).