MANILA, Philippines – Aabot sa 92 mga Filipino sa Gaza Strip ang humihingi na ng tulong na mapauwi sa Pilipinas kasabay ng giyera sa pagitan ng Israel at grupong Hamas.
“Out of the 131 [Filipinos in Gaza] up to 92 now are asking for repatriation, and that’s as of several hours ago,” sinabi ni Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega sa Palace briefing nitong Biyernes, Oktubre 13.
“That’s over 70 percent, and not one has been repatriated yet because of the fact that Gaza is under blockade, but we are working on it,” dagdag ni De Vega.
Aniya, nakikipagtulungan na ang DFA sa diplomatic partners nito upang tignan kung mabubuksan ba ang mga bayan sa palibot ng Gaza paara sa humanitarian purposes sa kabila ng mga restriksyon.
Kaugnay nito, inanunsyo rin ni Vega na walo sa 22 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sa Israel na humihiling ng repatriation ang inaasahang makakauwi na sa Pilipinas sa Oktubre 16.
Ang gastos sa pamasahe ay sasagutin ng Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) at Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
“And as they promised, once they arrived, they’ll be given the proper assistance, the usual reintegration and other assistance packages provided by the DMW and OWWA,” ani De Vega.
Nilinaw din niya na ang 22 OFW mula sa Israel na humihiling na mapauwi na sa Pilipinas ay dahil sa “economic reasons.”
“In Israel, there are some who have indicated that they want to go home – not because they were victimized by the war specifically but because indirectly, they lost a job or times are hard for them… for economic reasons therefore. Obviously aggravated by this conflict,” paliwanag ng opisyal. RNT/JGC
