DFA raises alert level in Sanaa in Yemen to '4'

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has raised the crisis alert level in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa to "4" because of the worsened politico-security situation in the city. Alert level 3 is still in effect in other areas of Yemen. The DFA issued the advisory after the Yemeni presidential palace was attacked, leaving Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and some members of his government injured. Seven presidential guards were also killed. Alert level 4 means "mandatory evacuation and repatriation" of Filipino nationals in an affected area at Philippine government’s expense. “In light of the worsening security situation in the city, we are asking Filipinos in Sanaa to get in touch with the Embassy team stationed there so they could be moved to a safer area, and then out of the country," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said. Alert level in other parts of Yemen On May 24, DFA raised the crisis alert level in Yemen to "3," specifying voluntary repatriation at the government’s expense. In coordination with Department of Labor and Employment, a deployment ban was put in place. All Filipinos were also advised not to travel to Yemen at this time. Filipinos in Yemen were also advised to call the Embassy teams in Sanaa and Aden immediately if they feel unsafe in the area they are residing and the teams can move them in a safe area. They were also asked not to venture outside if they feel that their safety is at risk. Since the voluntary repatriation started on May 30, some 27 Filipinos have returned home. Eight Filipinos arrived on May 30, followed by the arrival of eight Filipinos on June 3 and another batch of 11 on June 5. Another batch of 48 Filipinos is expected to arrive in Manila on June 7 and another batch of five will be arriving on June 9 from the port city of Aden. - VVP, GMA News