MANILA — There are no deaths among the Filipino community so far amid the conflict in Israel, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Saturday.
“So far there are no reports of Filipino casualties,” DFA undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in a message.
The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in years on Saturday, killing more than 20 people in a surprise assault.
The DFA official also said that the Philippine Embassy in Israel continues to be in touch with community leaders on the ground.
“There are about 27K [Filipinos] in Israel but the vast majority are situated in places other than the Gaza area,” he added.
The DFA will continue to verify reports, he said.
Earlier, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said it is closely monitoring the situation of Filipinos in Israel.
In its advisory, the DMW said that leaders of the Filipino community in Israel are in touch with their members and are accounted for. The leaders also are in contact with the Philippine Embassy and the Migrant Workers Office – Israel (MWO).
“Filipino community (FilCom) leaders are in touch with their members. They report that they remain calm and are accounted for. FilCom leaders remain in contact with the Philippine Embassy and MWO,” it said.
The DMW also advised Filipinos in Israel to take precautions and follow instructions from the Israeli Homefront Command.
It added that it has set up a help desk together with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for overseas Filipino workers and their families, which it may contact through its hotline +63 2 1348, or the following WhatsApp and Viber numbers: +63 9083268344 | +63 9271478186 | +639205171059.
The DMW reported that one OFW family has sought their assistance, and they have contacted the concerned OFW, who is reported to be safe.
“Please standby for further announcements as the situation develops in Israel,” the DMW said. (Adrian Parungao © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
