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MANILA, Philippines -- "Intense fighting in Gaza" postponed for the second time the planned evacuation of Filipinos there, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.
In a text message, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. said: "A planned concerted evacuation of foreigners, including Filipino nationals, for today was called off upon the advice of the Red Cross due to intense fighting in Gaza."
Conejos said the planned concerted evacuation, which would have the Canadian mission as focal point, would have departed from the Red Cross office in Gaza City for Erez Crossing at the border of Gaza and Israel at around 7:30 a.m. Gaza time (around 1:30 p.m. Manila time).
As of last count, he said 22 Filipino nationals, up from six, had indicated to the Philippine embassy in Israel their intention to join the evacuation.
Of the 108 Filipinos in Gaza, 20 are Filipinas married to Palestinians, one is a nun, another is a household service worker, and the rest are children of the married Filipinas.
"As of early this morning, all Filipino nationals are unharmed. Efforts to bring the Filipino nationals out of Gaza will continue," he said.
