PHL not yet sponsoring repatriation flights from Yemen

The Philippine government is not yet sponsoring repatriation flights for Filipinos in Yemen despite having raised the alert level there to 2. On Thursday, upon the recommendation thus of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, which covers Yemen as well, the alert level in Yemen has been raised from alert level 1 or "heightened alertness" to alert level 2 or "restriction of movements". Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Eduardo Malaya said Filipinos who want to leave Yemen should do so on their own for now. "On their own muna (ang pag-uwi). Ganoon pa man, pinapayuhan natin ang ating mga kababayan doon lalo ang ayaw umalis na maging handa," Malaya said in an interview on dwIZ radio on Thursday. In raising the alert level in Yemen, the DFA cited the brewing tension there, including street demonstrations calling for the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. "May mga ibang bansa na rin na naghikayat sa kanilang mga kababayan na umalis na. Ang mga ito as ang UK, Austrlaia, New Zealand, Canada, US, Germany at pati na rin ang ating neighbor, ang Indonesia," Malaya said. (Other countries are also encouraging their nationals to leave. These include United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States, Germany and even our Southeast Asian neighbor Indonesia.) He reiterated the DFA's advice to the Filipinos in Yemen to monitor ongoing developments and keep the Philippine Embassy updated on their whereabouts and contact information. He reminded them to keep ready an emergency bag with clothes, water, canned goods, and medicines good for two weeks, and keep their passports and money ready. There are around 2,000 Filipinos in Yemen, working in oil fields. He said the Filipino workers there are mainly on the technical and professional levels. On the other hand, he said the Philippines' travel advisory to Yemen issued in February is still in effect. — LBG/VVP, GMA News