The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed on Saturday that no Filipinos were harmed in the recent air raids conducted by the Israeli army in Beirut on October 10, 2024. The attack, described as the deadliest so far in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, targeted densely populated areas, resulting in 22 deaths and 117 injuries.
“Sa ngayon, wala tayong napapabalitaan na nasaktan o nasawing Pilipino sa mga attack sa Lebanon (At present, we haven’t heard of any Filipino hurt in the attacks in Lebanon),” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said during an interview at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City. “Sa awa ito ng Diyos kaya’t we’re hoping it will stay that way (This is by God’s grace, and we hope it stays that way).”
The Philippine Embassy in Beirut issued an advisory on October 12, urging Filipinos to avoid high-risk areas such as Ras al-Nabaa and Noueiri amid ongoing military operations.
Cacdac also mentioned that the majority of the 11,000 Filipinos in Lebanon reside in the capital. So far, around 570 Filipinos have expressed interest in voluntarily leaving the country, with 221 already scheduled to depart between October 12 and 28. The exit documents for the remaining 350 are currently being processed by the embassy.
Additionally, at least 178 Filipinos are temporarily housed in shelters and hotels across Lebanon as they await their departure.
