Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP PHOTO / INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — There are 131 Filipinos in the Gaza Strip and more than half of them are now asking to be repatriated, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told INQUIRER.net on Friday.
Gaza is a Palestinian enclave on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, bordering Egypt and Israel. The strip is about 365 square kilometers and it is home to at least 2.3 million people, making it the largest city in the State of Palestine.
But following the unprecedented attack conducted by the militant group Hamas on October 7, the city has become the center of Israeli-Palestinian war.
In a text message, De Vega told INQUIRER.net that 131 Filipinos are currently residing in war-ravaged Gaza.
As of Friday, October 13, more than half of these Overseas Filipinos have signified their intention to be repatriated.
De Vega said the breakdown is as follows:
- 85 are now in southern Sudan near Rafah crossing, awaiting repatriation
- 46 remain in Gaza City, still uncertain about leaving
Asked when these Filipinos will be brought back home, De Vega said there’s still no way for the government to begin the repatriation process.
READ: DFA confirms third Filipino fatality in Israel-Hamas conflict
The foreign affairs official, however, said the agency is now working with its diplomatic partners to see if the outskirts surrounding Gaza could be opened for humanitarian purposes despite restrictions.
DFA: Alert level 3 raised in Gaza; repatriation for Filipinos now voluntary
Prior to De Vega’s pronouncements, the agency has placed Gaza under an alert level 3 status.
This indicates that the Philippine government is calling on Filipinos to consider repatriation on a voluntary basis.