Fil-Egyptian teenager injured by stray bullet in strife-torn Cairo
(UPDATED 3:30 P.M.) - Amid the continued unrest in Egypt, A Filipino-Egyptian teenage girl was hit Thursday night by a stray bullet on her shoulder while she was inside her family's apartment in Cairo.
In an interview with Pia Arcangel on "Balitanghali" on Friday, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez said the Philippine embassy in Egypt has relayed to him the news about the first case of an injured Filipino in the strife-torn Middle Eastern country.
“May isang Filipino-Egyptian teenager na natamaan ng isang stray bullet doon sa Helwan sa Cairo kahapon ng gabi. Nandoon [siya] sa kanilang apartment pero yung bullet ay tumagos doon at siya ay tinamaan sa kanyang balikat,” he said.
In a text message to reporters on Friday, Hernandez said, "Last night, a teenage filipina-egyptian residing in Helwan, Cairo was hit in her right shoulder by a stray bullet that penetrated their apartment."
"She is now confined in a hospital where embassy personnel visited her to check her condition and offer assistance," Hernandez added.
Hernandez said embassy officials have already visited the teenager, who is currently recovering at a military hospital in Cairo.
Defer trips to Egypt
The DFA on Thursday raised the alert crisis level in Egypt to Level 3 “in view of the escalating civil unrest and insecurity as well as the declaration of a month-long State of Emergency” in the country.
The new crisis alert level means OFWs in Egypt can volunteer to be repatriated to the Philippines with the assistance of the Philippine embassy in Cairo.
On Friday, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration(POEA) imposed a total deployment ban on OFWs who want to work in Egypt in light of the violent protests and gunfight happening there.
Hernandez urged Filipinos to defer all non-essential trips to Egypt "until further notice."
"We continue to advise our kababayans to exercise extra precaution and stay in their homes; if they need to go out, they should avoid places where protest actions are taking place, and to comply with the Egyptian government's orders, especially the curfew. If their homes are located near protest areas, they must stay away from windows," he said.
"Filipinos who wish to avail of voluntary repatriation should get in touch with our embassy in Cairo. Our embassy is prepared to assist Filipinos who wish to go home in view of the security concerns in that country," he added.
However, Hernandez said the Philippine consulate in Egypt has yet to receive a request for repatriation from any Filipino workers residing or working in the country.
“Wala pa tayong natatanggap na report na may Filipino sa Egypt na gusto nang umuwi [dahil] sa nangyayaring kaguluhan doon. Pero yung ating embahada doon, pati na yung ating ambassador, ay nakikipag-ugnayan na sa mga coordinators at community leaders tungkol sa kanilang sitwasyon,” he said.
Hernandez also assured OFWs in Egypt that the DFA is willing to extend financial assistance to help them them buy a one-way plane ticket for a trip back to the Philippines should they wish to be repatriated immediately.
'Millions march of anger'
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood called for a nationwide "millions' march of anger" on Friday after noon prayers to protest the recent security forces' violent crackdown on protesters in which hundreds were killed.
"Despite the pain and sorrow over the loss of our martyrs, the latest coup makers' crime has increased our determination to end them," the Islamist group said in a statement on Friday. Over 500 Brotherhood supporters were killed in the violence.
The Islamist group accuses the military of staging a coup when it ousted its leader, elected President Mohamed Mursi, last month. Liberal and youth activists who backed the military saw the move as a positive response to public demands.
At least 623 people died and thousands were wounded on Wednesday when police cleared out two protest camps in Cairo set up to denounce the military overthrow on July 3 of Mursi.
It was the third mass killing of Mursi supporters since his ouster. The assault left his Muslim Brotherhood in disarray, but they warned they would not retreat in their showdown with army commander General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. - with reports from Xianne Arcangel/ Michaela del Callar/ Reuters/ VVP, GMA News
In an interview with Pia Arcangel on "Balitanghali" on Friday, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez said the Philippine embassy in Egypt has relayed to him the news about the first case of an injured Filipino in the strife-torn Middle Eastern country.
“May isang Filipino-Egyptian teenager na natamaan ng isang stray bullet doon sa Helwan sa Cairo kahapon ng gabi. Nandoon [siya] sa kanilang apartment pero yung bullet ay tumagos doon at siya ay tinamaan sa kanyang balikat,” he said.
In a text message to reporters on Friday, Hernandez said, "Last night, a teenage filipina-egyptian residing in Helwan, Cairo was hit in her right shoulder by a stray bullet that penetrated their apartment."
"She is now confined in a hospital where embassy personnel visited her to check her condition and offer assistance," Hernandez added.
Hernandez said embassy officials have already visited the teenager, who is currently recovering at a military hospital in Cairo.
Defer trips to Egypt
The DFA on Thursday raised the alert crisis level in Egypt to Level 3 “in view of the escalating civil unrest and insecurity as well as the declaration of a month-long State of Emergency” in the country.
The new crisis alert level means OFWs in Egypt can volunteer to be repatriated to the Philippines with the assistance of the Philippine embassy in Cairo.
On Friday, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration(POEA) imposed a total deployment ban on OFWs who want to work in Egypt in light of the violent protests and gunfight happening there.
Hernandez urged Filipinos to defer all non-essential trips to Egypt "until further notice."
"We continue to advise our kababayans to exercise extra precaution and stay in their homes; if they need to go out, they should avoid places where protest actions are taking place, and to comply with the Egyptian government's orders, especially the curfew. If their homes are located near protest areas, they must stay away from windows," he said.
"Filipinos who wish to avail of voluntary repatriation should get in touch with our embassy in Cairo. Our embassy is prepared to assist Filipinos who wish to go home in view of the security concerns in that country," he added.
However, Hernandez said the Philippine consulate in Egypt has yet to receive a request for repatriation from any Filipino workers residing or working in the country.
“Wala pa tayong natatanggap na report na may Filipino sa Egypt na gusto nang umuwi [dahil] sa nangyayaring kaguluhan doon. Pero yung ating embahada doon, pati na yung ating ambassador, ay nakikipag-ugnayan na sa mga coordinators at community leaders tungkol sa kanilang sitwasyon,” he said.
Hernandez also assured OFWs in Egypt that the DFA is willing to extend financial assistance to help them them buy a one-way plane ticket for a trip back to the Philippines should they wish to be repatriated immediately.
'Millions march of anger'
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood called for a nationwide "millions' march of anger" on Friday after noon prayers to protest the recent security forces' violent crackdown on protesters in which hundreds were killed.
"Despite the pain and sorrow over the loss of our martyrs, the latest coup makers' crime has increased our determination to end them," the Islamist group said in a statement on Friday. Over 500 Brotherhood supporters were killed in the violence.
The Islamist group accuses the military of staging a coup when it ousted its leader, elected President Mohamed Mursi, last month. Liberal and youth activists who backed the military saw the move as a positive response to public demands.
At least 623 people died and thousands were wounded on Wednesday when police cleared out two protest camps in Cairo set up to denounce the military overthrow on July 3 of Mursi.
It was the third mass killing of Mursi supporters since his ouster. The assault left his Muslim Brotherhood in disarray, but they warned they would not retreat in their showdown with army commander General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. - with reports from Xianne Arcangel/ Michaela del Callar/ Reuters/ VVP, GMA News
Comments