FOREIGN Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega on Wednesday said the six Filipinos who returned to Gaza City and three others who decided to stay there are all safe and unharmed despite the ongoing attacks of Israeli troops.
De Vega was referring to the six Filipinos belonging to one family who went back to Gaza City from southern Gaza while they continue to wait for a chance to cross the Rafah border to Egypt.
The three other Filipinos, meanwhile, stayed in Gaza City despite the implementation of a mandatory evacuation by the Philippine government under Alert Level 4.
“Ang mabuti naman na balita, silang anim at saka ‘yung tatlo pa na talagang nandoon nanatili doon, kasama doon ‘yung isang madre, ay safe naman. Uninjured sila. Gayunpaman, alam nating hindi maganda ang sitwasyon doon nga sa pag-aatake ng Israel sa Hamas targets,” de Vega said in a public briefing.
A total of 136 Filipinos were situated in the Gaza Strip. Most of them are waiting for the opening of the Rafah border to cross Egypt.
De Vega said Wednesday that 10 Filipinos in Gaza have yet to be contacted since Friday when internet and phone networks were cut across the area amid Israel’s attack there.
The remaining 126 Filipinos who are accounted for, he said, are all safe and unhurt, but have limited food and water supplies.
At least 57 Filipinos are also right outside the Rafah border and are ready to cross from Gaza to Egypt at any given notice.
