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MANILA, Philippines -- There is no need to evacuate overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Lebanon, yet.
Joseph Assad, Honorary Consul-General of Lebanon to the Philippines, assured the families of OFWs on Wednesday that the episodes of violence in his country were ?only temporary.?
?The situation is serious, but Lebanon has been through so much worse,? Assad said in an interview, noting that the resilience of the Lebanese people enabled them to live and coexist in peace for centuries.
?My country will survive this present crisis and the (Lebanese) Army will be able to contain any new outbreaks of violence,? Assad said.
The consul explained that the violent flare-ups in Southern Beirut were primarily the result of power blackouts in the area.
?Some rogue elements have also exploited the situation to create turmoil in the hope for a fight between the Lebanese Army and the rioters,? Assad said, blaming the deaths of civilians on snipers who wanted to rekindle the civil war in the country.
The envoy also added that there has been no talk about the evacuation of over a million tourists in Lebanon.
?The safety of every Filipino worker is the concern of their employers. All OFWs are treated with love and respect as much as every member of the Lebanese family,? Assad said.
Assad added that Filipino workers were known around the world to be intelligent and sincere, earning the respect of those who knew and worked with them.
?The Lebanese are counting on the OFWs in their country to enjoy life and to pray with them that the difficult times they are going through would end very soon,? he said.
The consul advised OFWs in Lebanon to rest at home during their days off and refrain from going out to the souks (markets) and other public places like shopping malls, cinemas and churches.
?The safest place to be right now is in your home,? Assad said, saying it was the same advice he gave to his family back in Lebanon.
The Lebanese envoy said his country endured more than 25 violent incidents in the last two years since the death of former Prime Minister Hariri.
He added that the situation would stabilize within a few days and that the scheduled presidential elections would push through on February 11.
Abdul Kader Al Jadid, president of the Philippine-Lebanese Friendship Community, expressed the same sentiments as Assad.
?My sources in Lebanon are optimistic that the situation will abate very soon with the Army in control,? Al Jadid said.
