172 more Pinoys repatriated from Libya; over 3,000 remain

Some 172 Filipino workers, including nine minors, will arrive from Libya on Tuesday afternoon after they availed of the government's repatriation program, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The latest batch will arrive in two groups — 92 will arrive via flight QR932 at 4 p.m. and 80 others will arrive at 4:35 p.m. on flight EK 332.

The 172 OFWs were evacuated by the Philippine Embassy out of Tripoli and central region, as well as from Tobruk and the eastern region, the DFA said.

Their arrival brings the total number of repatriated Filipinos from Libya to 5,290. Still, over 3,000 Filipinos still remain in Libya despite the Crisis Alert Level 4 raised there by the Philippine government.

Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and Libya's slide into chaos and fighting between two rival governments, the North African state has seen the rise of Islamist militant groups, who have taken advantage of the turmoil.
 
Some are allied with al Qaeda's leadership, others have local loyalties and some have recently declared allegiance with Islamic State, which has been gaining ground.
 
The United Nations is trying to broker an end to the stand-off between two rival factions and governments, and close a security vacuum that has allowed Islamic State militants to gain a foothold in Libya.

Last January, two Filipino sailors were injured there following an air strike on a Greek vessel. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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