Gaza placed under Alert Level 3
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NewsTranscript
00:00 The city of Gaza has been under relentless pounding from artillery fire and airstrikes
00:05 over the last five days, and there is no way out of the city except for the UN shelters,
00:11 where over a quarter of a million refugees are holed up and whom the IDF has spared for
00:17 now.
00:18 Thus, the DFA status quo falls under DFA's Alert Level 3, in which the danger threat
00:23 is at its highest, and migrant Filipinos staying or visiting there are free to repatriate anytime
00:29 they wish and if security arrangements permit, as our Bea Bernardo reports.
00:35 Repatriation is now voluntary for Filipinos trapped in a war between Israel and the militant
00:42 group Hamas.
00:43 According to Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega, the situation
00:47 in Gaza keeps getting worse, and so they raised the crisis alert to Level 3.
00:51 "Meaning the situation already become dangerous so we're asking them to voluntarily decide
00:59 to go home."
01:00 The Philippine Embassy in Amman, Jordan, is in contact with the Filipino communities
01:03 in Gaza to provide assistance if needed.
01:06 Currently, 70 Filipinos with their Palestinian spouses and children have expressed their
01:10 intention to return to the Philippines.
01:12 The number of Filipinos in Gaza is over 100.
01:15 The government is coordinating with neighboring countries while planning the safe evacuation
01:20 of our citizens.
01:21 Until now, the repatriation plan for Filipinos is still a challenge.
01:24 "We are using diplomatic connections and it's not just the Philippines, other countries
01:29 are having problems repatriating their nationals.
01:33 We're working together.
01:35 ASEAN always helps each other."
01:37 Israel remains at alert level 2.
01:40 That means movement is restricted and new deployments of Filipino in the area will not
01:44 be allowed.
01:45 The Department of Migrant Workers says 22 Filipinos in Israel said they want to go home
01:49 to the Philippines.
01:50 "For the most part, the ones who will be repatriated should have already accomplished
01:59 their contract, finished their contract, or at least had a good understanding and agreement
02:06 with their employers."
02:07 Right now, three Filipinos are still unaccounted for.
02:10 The department is ready to assist Filipinos stranded on their way to Israel and those
02:14 who have working permits but cannot travel due to increasing tension.
02:17 The DOH assures it is ready to support OFWs affected by the unrest in Israel, particularly
02:23 mental health treatment or health care support.
02:26 "Stress debriefing is always standard after a major disaster or even people coming from
02:32 crisis.
02:33 So stress debriefing is done by professionals who understand how to know stress debriefing
02:38 and they will identify if the patient needs either medication or continued psychosocial
02:44 therapy."
02:45 Bernardo for the Nation.