The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has renewed its call for Filipinos to evacuate as 12 Filipinos, including children remain trapped near Tripoli neighbourhood within Libya.
Chargés d’Affaires and Philippine head of mission Elmer Cato urges Filipinos residing near the Salahuddin neighbourhood to move as soon as possible before the fighting resumes. One Filipino has since been rescued.
“Several others were able to leave before fighting moved closer to Tripoli earlier today (Tuesday).
“PhilinLibya appeals to our kababayan in Salahuddin and nearby areas in Tripoli to move to the Embassy or to safer locations now due to the fighting expected to break out there. Those who can no longer leave are requested to stay indoors,” tweeted Cato.
As the fighting gets closer to us, the ability of @PhinLibya to respond to calls for assistance by Filipinos in distress becomes more difficult or even impossible to carry out. That’s why this early we ask our kababayan to let us help lead them out of harm’s way. @teddyboylocsin pic.twitter.com/GHe2Uboxd7
— Elmer G Cato (@elmer_cato) April 30, 2019
“During the past three weeks since the current conflict in Tripoli erupted, we have been going around to meet with our kababayan (fellowmen) here to make sure they know we are here ready to assist them. We want them to know they can count on us,” the diplomat furthered.
On Facebook, Cato reported that he personally checked Filipinos who were trapped at a residential building “…where heavy fighting was earlier reported to have taken place.”
“Yesterday (Monday), we were at the Islamic Call College to check on our 19 Filipino scholars there and tell them we are just one phone call away if they need us,” Cato said.
32 Filipinos have since been repatriated since the conflict began last April 4.
Thirteen Filipino carpet factory workers displaced by the fighting in Tripoli were repatriated by their employer via Misrata this afternoon. This brings to 32 the number of Filipinos repatriated from Tripoli since fighting began on 4 April . @teddyboylocsin @PhinLibya @DFAPHL pic.twitter.com/W5bU647kfy
— Elmer G Cato (@elmer_cato) April 27, 2019
