Philippines to repatriate 26 Pinoys from Egypt

As mass protests escalate in Egypt, where foreigners are scrambling to get out of before all hell breaks loose, the Philippine government said Thursday 26 Filipinos, mostly women and children, will be repatriated. Three of those who asked the Philippine embassy in Cairo to be repatriated were nurses from Dar Al Fouad Hospital. The others were scholars from Al Azhar University and domestic helpers, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. They will fly back to the Philippines this Saturday. They will leave Egypt on voluntary basis after responding to the Philippine government’s offer of repatriation, Foreign Affairs spokesman Eduardo Malaya told reporters Thursday. The International Organization for Migration in Cairo has offered to help Philippines repatriate its nationals from the North African nation. There are 6,569 Filipinos in Egypt, mostly domestic helpers and scholars. The department also said another 3,000 Filipino workers are undocumented. “There has been no report of attacks targeting foreigners in the ongoing protest actions," said Malaya, citing reports from the Philippine embassy in Cairo. “In their assessment, there is no need for mandatory evacuation of Filipino community members at this time." “Nonetheless, all those who feel that their safety is at risk can avail [themselves] of the voluntary repatriation being undertaken by the embassy and the DFA," Malaya said. Philippine embassies in Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia have been ordered to allow Filipinos from Egypt safe passage should the need for a mass evacuation arise, according to the spokesperson. DFA has also issued a travel advisory on Egypt, urging Filipinos to defer non-essential and non-urgent travels — notably tourism — until the situation has stabilized. — VS, GMANews.TV