Despite the fall of President Muammar Gaddafi on 2011, Libya is currently facing another political chaos as rebels and rival militias continued to take over capital streets of the country. The country's main cities and towns became war zones as bombs and explosions continues to hit these areas. Foreign nations have called on their citizens to leave the country as early as possible as heavy fighting between the rebels and the government forces left hundred of people dead. Embassies of different countries started closing down and some had evacuated to a much safer areas. The Philippines had already issued warnings and ordered the embassy in Libya to immediately gather and evacuate all OFWs across the country and implement quick repatriation. The Philippines had issued Alert Level 4 last week after an OFW was kidnapped and killed by rival militias.
Through OFW Watch website, i received notifications the other day with regards to efforts made by the Philippine government on OFWs repatriation. I believe this is very important and is worth sharing because I have some nurse' friends in Libya.
First Notification (July 28, 2014)
579 Filipinos already repatriated from Libya. If you have family in Libya, tell them to register for repatriation NOW!
There is an estimate of 36,000 Filipinos in Libya. The government is calling all Filipinos to contact the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli and register for repatriation.
Forty six (46) more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Libya arrived in Manila today last Saturday, July 26 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1.These arrivals bring the total number of repatriated Filipinos from Libya to 579. DFA and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) representatives will meet them at the airport to brief and assist them.
While Alert Level 4 remains raised in Libya, the DFA reiterates its call to OFWs to get in touch with the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli and register for repatriation.Filipinos can contact the Embassy through the telephone numbers (00218) 918-244-208 / (00218) 911061166, and the e-mail addresses tripoli.pe@gmail.com;tripoli.pe@dfa.gov.ph. The Embassy's address is KM 7 Gargaresh Road, Abu Nawas, P.O. Box 12508, Tripoli.The DFA’s 24-hour hotlines are also available for families of OFWs in Libya. Those who have questions and concerns about the conditions of their relatives in Libya can call the hotline numbers (02) 552-7105 / (02) 834-4685. They may also send their queries by e-mail to oumwa@dfa.gov.ph.
Second Notification (July 30, 2014)
(Reuters) - Militant fighters overran a Libyan special forces base in the eastern city of Benghazi on Tuesday after a battle involving rockets and warplanes that killed at least 30 people.
A special forces officer said they had to abandon their main camp in the southeast of Benghazi after coming under sustained attack from a coalition of Islamist fighters and former rebel militias in the city.
"We have withdrawn from the army base after heavy shelling," Saiqa Special Forces officer Fadel Al-Hassi told Reuters.
A separate special forces spokesman confirmed the militants had taken over the camp after the troops pulled out. Part of the area is Camp 36 in the Bu Attni district and the special forces school.
Intense fighting in Benghazi, Libya's second city, and battles between rival militias in the capital Tripoli have pushed the nation deeper into chaos after two weeks of the fiercest violence since the civil war which ousted Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.Benghazi has been at the centre of fighting between special forces and ex-rebel fighters of the Benghazi Shura Council who have joined up with the Ansar al Sharia, a militant Islamist group, residents said.
Alert Level 4 is still imposed by the DFA for Filipinos in Libya.
Under Alert Level 4, the Philippine Government undertakes evacuation of about 13,000 Filipino nationals there as soon as possible, while no Filipino national will be allowed to travel to Libya.
Filipinos in Libya are enjoined to contact the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli for instructions regarding mass evacuation.
Those who have questions and concerns about the conditions of their relatives in Libya can call the hotline numbers (02) 552-7105 / (02) 834-4685. Families may also send their queries by e-mail tooumwa@dfa.gov.ph.
For Filipino nationals in Libya who wish to volunteer for repatriation, they can contact the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli. The Embassy’s address is KM 7 Gargaresh Road, Abu Nawas, P.O. Box 12508, Tripoli. Filipinos can get in touch with the Embassy through the telephone numbers:(00218) 918-244-208 / (00218) 911061166,and the e-mail addresses tripoli.pe@gmail.com; tripoli.pe@dfa.gov.ph.
---------------------
P.S. I hope everybody could go back home safe and sound.
No comments:
Post a Comment