15 repatriates arriving Oct. 3 from strife-torn Lebanon

MANILA – Fifteen Filipinos will arrive from Lebanon on Oct. 3, the latest batch that availed of repatriation, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Saturday.

DMW Undersecretary Fely Bay said the repatriates were originally scheduled to return on Sept. 26 but were stalled due to the suspension of flights.

"The Migrant Workers Office said that the repatriation will be rescheduled or has been reset for October 2, so darating po iyong mga kababayan natin (our citizens will arrive), barring unforeseen circumstances, October 3," she said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

Bay said at least 1,100 Filipinos have signed up for voluntary repatriation as Lebanon has been placed under Alert Level 3 due to the escalating conflict between the Hezbollah militant group and Israel.

From October 2023 to Sept. 19 this year, a total of 430 Filipinos have returned home, both residents and workers.

There are more or less 11,000 Filipinos in Lebanon, according to latest government data.

Bay urged Filipinos to heed to the call of the government to prioritize safety.

"This is a call for all Filipinos, not only for OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), but for all Filipinos in Lebanon to heed the call of government for voluntary repatriation," she said.

Upon arrival, Bay said the previous repatriates received cash assistance of P75,000 each from the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

"So, iyan po ay maaaring panimula sa kung anumang negosyo ang kanilang ma-ibigan. At the same time, mayroon din po tayong (they can start anew with whatever business they like. At the same time, there are other) assistance provided by the different offices," Bay said.

Be vigilant

On Friday, the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon reminded Filipino nationals to remain vigilant and avoid the southern suburbs of Beirut and any other previously mentioned areas in prior advisories.

"The Embassy reiterates the importance of considering departure from the country, especially for undocumented Filipino nationals, as this involves coordinating with Lebanese authorities to secure an exit clearance," the embassy posted on Facebook.

It also announced that the one-stop shop event at the Boghossian Theater, Bourj Hammoud on Sept. 29 is postponed until further notice.

"The safety and well-being of our staff, volunteers, attendees and the Filipino community in Lebanon remain our top priority. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding during these challenging times," it said.

Airstrikes

Anadolu news agency reported on Saturday that Lebanon's Health Ministry plans to evacuate hospitals in southern Beirut as Israeli airstrikes escalate in the region.

In a statement, the ministry urged hospitals in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and other unaffected areas to suspend non-urgent cases until the end of the week to accommodate patients from the southern suburbs.

The evacuation comes after more than 40 Israeli airstrikes targeted neighborhoods such as Burj al-Barajneh, Kafaat, Choueifat, Hadath, and Lailaki.

The strikes caused widespread destruction and fires, marking the heaviest bombardment in southern Beirut since the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel.

The Israeli military said the airstrikes targeted Hezbollah sites, including alleged weapons storage facilities.

Hezbollah denied the claims, stating that the buildings hit were not used for military purposes.

So far, the bombings have killed six people and injured 91, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry's Emergency Operations Center.

Israel's strikes are part of a broader campaign against Hezbollah, which has intensified over the past year.

Since the conflict reignited, 726 people have died in Lebanon, including women and children, with more than 2,100 injured.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of Israel's onslaught in the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 41,500 victims, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. (PNA)