Philippine Embassy Urges Immediate Evacuation of Filipinos from Lebanon

BEIRUT — The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon has issued an urgent advisory for Filipino nationals to leave the country amid escalating tensions and the threat of imminent conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

According to Philippines News Agency, the advisory was prompted by rising hostilities and specific intelligence suggesting an imminent Israeli attack on Hezbollah positions. The embassy’s statement on August 16 strongly advised Filipinos to exit Lebanon while Beirut’s airport remains operational, or to relocate to safer areas outside of Beirut, South Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley.

The urgency of the situation was underscored by recent violence in Nabatieh City, south of Lebanon, where an attack attributed to Israel resulted in six deaths and three injuries. Despite the growing danger, many Filipinos have opted to remain, with only a fraction of the estimated 11,000 Filipinos in Lebanon choosing to leave. Those who have recently arrived in the country showed the most interest in repatriation.

As of now, 738 Filipinos have requested repatriation, with some facing delays due to pending immigration papers or ongoing legal issues. Over 300 Filipinos have successfully returned home, while others have withdrawn their applications for repatriation.

Philippine Ambassador to Beirut Raymond Balatbat stated that while the embassy continues to monitor the situation closely, it has not yet recommended raising the alert level to level 4, which mandates evacuation. The current level allows for voluntary repatriation.

De Vega noted that there are only a few Filipinos in the southern regions directly affected by the conflict, and none have been harmed in the recent attacks. The embassy is diligently verifying the numbers of overseas Filipino workers in key southern cities and ensuring that no Filipinos reside in the border towns most affected by the ongoing skirmishes.

The conflict has intensified following threats of retaliation by Hezbollah over recent killings of key figures in the region, adding to the volatile situation and increasing the risk of a broader regional conflict.