DFA: 110 Pinoys in Syria's conflict area; repatriation fund ready

At least 110 Filipinos are living in the conflict-affected area in troubled Syria, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.

But DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya said there has been no report of any of Filipinos being hurt there so far because they are not being targeted by the warring parties.

“Yung sentro ng kaguluhan ay nasa Daraa, ito ay southern part ng Syria ... Hindi naman karamihan ang mga Filipino doon mismo sa Daraa, ang nasa ating talaan mga 110," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.

He also maintained the government has enough funds to repatriate them if the need arises, noting the DFA’s Assistance to Nationals (ATN) fund has been recently replenished.

The DFA estimated some 17,000 Filipinos are living in Syria.

“Walang Pilipinong nasugatan, nasawi at hindi naman tina-target ang mga Pilipino (So far there has been no report of any Filipino being killed or injured. They are not being targeted)," he said.

Last Tuesday, the DFA raised the crisis alert level in Syria to “2" amid the continued political tension there.

With the raised alert level, the DFA discouraged nonessential travel to Syria and has asked Filipinos there to actively monitor developments and keep communication lines open, and restrict their movements.

Also the DFA advised Filipinos there to avoid large crowds and areas of protest, and encouraged them to voluntarily relocate or leave the country at their own cost if there is no pressing need for them to stay.

Also, the DFA asked them to also stockpile on basic necessities such as food, water, and prescribed medicines, as well as mobile phones, flashlights, and radios that are in good condition.

In a separate interview on dwIZ radio, Malaya said most Filipinos in Syria are female household service workers.

He said the Philippine Embassy in Syria continues to coordinate with Filipino community leaders there.

Meanwhile, he said the Philippine embassy in Syria has “fine-tuned and updated" its contingency plans.

“May pondo sa DFA, kare-replenish ang ATN funds. Ang pagkakaalam ko P200 million uli ang ating pondo (We have funds for that in the DFA," he said in the dwIZ interview. — LBG, GMA News

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