DFA urges repatriation of 17,000 OFWs from war-torn Syria

The Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday urged some 17,000 Filipinos in strife-torn Syria to leave as the political tension and violence in the country continue to worsen.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the government is prepared to shoulder the evacuation costs for Filipinos wanting to leave Syria after the government on the same day raised the security alert level for the entire country

to number 3, which calls for voluntary repatriation. Non-essential and non-urgent travel is also discouraged, including travel for tourism purposes.

“I have directed our Philippine Embassy in Damascus to intensify its efforts to reach out to Filipinos and convince them that now is the time to consider leaving Syria,” Del Rosario said as it would be more difficult to evacuate them once all airports and major transport routes are blocked.

Organizing mass evacuations for Filipinos in conflict-stricken states has proven difficult for the government in the past as many refused to leave and return to the Philippines for fear of losing their jobs.

Most of the Filipinos in Syria are domestic helpers with some skilled workers and professionals.

“Under alert level 3, all Filipinos working and residing in Syria are enjoined to leave Syria and the Philippine government will provide for the repatriation cost,” Del Rosario said.

As early as April, Manila has placed under alert level 3 three critical areas in Syria – Daraa, Latakia and Homs – where 4,110 Filipinos reside. But at that time, only three Filipinos heeded the government’s call to leave and returned to the Philippines.

DFA figures showed there are 110 Filipinos in Daraa, 2,400 in Latakia, and 1,600 in Homs.

Earlier, Del Rosario called on the Syrian government to immediately halt violence in the country and urged its officials to listen to the people’s demand for reforms. However, the Philippines maintained it will not cut ties with the country amid calls aired by its key ally, the United States, to all countries to severe political and economic relations with Syria.

Del Rosario said he views “with deep concern the escalating violence in Syria” as anti-government protests against the leadership of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad continued unabated amid harsh government crackdown.

He also asked the Syrian government to ensure the safety and security of its people and all foreign nationals.

Heavy machine-gun fire reverberated Tuesday across the Syrian Mediterranean port of Latakia, which is engulfed by a major military offensive, activists said.

“The heavy machine gun-fire and bullets were intense in areas of Latakia, Ramel, Masbah al-Shaab and Ain Tamra for more than three hours,” said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Since Sunday, 30 civilians have been killed in Latakia in an offensive that has seen use of gunboats by Syrian security forces for the first time since the start of pro-democracy revolts in mid-March.

Syrian official news agency SANA has denied any maritime operation.

UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the agency for Palestinian refugees, reported that more than 5,000 refugees had fled the Ramel camp in southern Latakia under fire.

The Syrian daily Al-Watan said Tuesday Latakia was “under control” of the army.

“The situation (in Latakia) is under control, especially after the army arrested dozens of armed men during a complicated operation,” it said.

“Armed men had set up barricades for laying mines to prevent the army from advancing,” which “has led to residents fleeing the neighbourhoods,” the daily added.

The first two weeks of August, since the beginning of Ramadan, 260 people, including 14 women and 31 children have been counted dead by coordinating committees of demonstrators. –With AFP