PHL officials in Kuwait prepare for possible spillover of Iraq conflict

Officials from the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait on Thursday inspected the Iraq-Kuwait border to conduct a first-hand assessment of the security situation there following a series of rebel attacks in Iraq.

Consul General Ramon Dado led the delegation, according to a report on GMA News' "Balitanghali," adding the group found that the border was operating normally.

The report quoted Dado as saying that it is the embassy's priority to remain on top of the situation in case the violence in Iraq spills over to Kuwait, home to at least 180,000 Filipinos.

Dado said the embassy is prepared to assist Filipinos in evacuating from Kuwait should the country become embroiled in conflict.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has raised Crisis Alert Level 4, the highest alert level on troubled states, in Iraq due to the ongoing armed conflict there blamed on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), reportedly an al Qaeda breakaway faction.

There are at least 900 Filipino workers in Iraq, though most are based in the Kurdistan region, which is under Crisis Alert Level 2.

Filipinos in the region, mostly construction and oil rig workers, are advised to restrict non-essential movements, avoid public places, and take extra precautions. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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