FILIPINO workers in Lebanon have expressed concerns over the escalating conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group, saying many of them are already getting “traumatized,” according to the group Migrante International.
It said the Filipino workers there need constant support and assistance as tension continues to rise/
“We, Filipino migrant workers in Lebanon, and our families in the Philippines are deeply concerned about the escalating conflict in Lebanon,” the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) said in a manifesto released by Migrante.
“We fear for our safety and well-being. We are traumatized by the bombings and explosions, and we need immediate support and assistance,” they added.
The OFWs asked government to release and execute an “urgent, comprehensive blueprint for the facilitation of mass rescue, evacuation, and repatriation” of Filipino nationals in Lebanon.
They also appealed to the Philippine government to secure chartered flights dedicated to bringing Filipinos and their dependents safely back home to the Philippines, as well as ground vehicles in Lebanon to transport Filipinos to safe evacuation centers or temporary shelters.
President Marcos, on October 9, directed government agencies to mobilize all assets in preparation for the repatriation of Filipinos affected by the crisis in the Middle East, as he said government will evacuate “our people by whatever means — by air, or by sea.”
The OFWs in Lebanon also an expansion of the capacity of temporary shelters, to accommodate more distressed Filipinos awaiting repatriation or seeking refuge.
There were 525 OFWs, as well as 30 dependents, who have been repatriated from Lebanon through the government’s voluntary repatriation program. Over 11,000 OFWs are based in Lebanon, which has been the site of the hostilities between the Hezbollah and Israeli forces.