DFA augmentation teams sent to Libya


The Department of Foreign  Affairs (DFA) has sent two augmentation teams to extend support for the Philippine Embassy in Libya.
Elmer B. Cato, Charge d'affaires in Libya, added that the teams are led by Executive Director Enrico Fos and Director Iric Arribas of the Office of Migrant Workers Affairs (OMWA).
"In challenging times like this, our people can always look forward to an effective response from the DFA and other agencies of government," Cato said in a post on social media.
There are about 1,000 Filipinos affected by the Alert Level 3 raised in Libya.
The augmentation teams are needed to extract all of the Filipinos in Tripoli, the capital of Libya, and those within the 100-kilometer radius and kept from harm's way should the situation in the deteriorate further.
Cato related that there are 100 nurses at the University of Tripoli Medical Center who opted to stay in Libya.
"They told us they would rather stay than face an uncertain future in the Philippines," Cato said.
"We respect their decision but as long as we are here, we will keep on trying to convince them and the rest of our people here in Tripoli that with the looming danger, it may be time for them to go home," he added.
At the Oil Clinic managed by the National Oil Company, Cato said there are more than 150 Filipinos nurses and other hospital staff.
"Most of them are also veterans of the fierce fighting that took place in the capital in 2014. And just like the rest of our kababayan who are still in Tripoli, Filipinos at the Oil Clinic are convinced the situation will improve and that there is no need for them to go home," he said.
Earlier, Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III announced that a total deployment ban has been imposed on Filipinos who want to work in Libya.
The order was issued as firefighting among warring factions continue in Libya.
Based on data from DOLE, there are 2,600 documented OFWs in Libya who are mostly medical and skilled workers while a thousand of them are in the affected areas. — BAP, GMA News

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