Pinoys’ escape from Gaza to speed up once Rafah border opens–DFA
THE processing of documents of Filipinos fleeing Gaza will be fast-tracked once the Rafah border crossing opens, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) assured.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega said this assurance was given by the Egyptian Ambassador to Manila Ahmed Shehabeldin.
De Vega said “pasalamat din sa Egyptian ambassador dito, Ahmed Shehabeldin, dahil sabi niya, kinausap niya na ang kanilang pamahalaan na kapag nagsidatingan na ang mga foreigner doon sa gate (sa border)—kasi pagdating sa crossing, hindi pa Egypt ‘yon eh.
May konti pang aabutan hanggang nandoon ka sa gate, parang processing ‘yon. Alam nila ‘yan, binigyan sila ng mga pangalan [ng mga Pilipino]—na bigyan ng priority [ang mga Pilipino] or ‘wag nang bigyan ng problema o bilisan na.”
A total of 135 Filipinos are in Gaza but only around 78 to 80 are expected to go to Rafah Crossing, the undersecretary said.
“Well, hindi naman natin makukuha sa pilitan ‘yung iba. Sana, sana tumawid ‘pag handa na dahil hindi natin magagarantiya ang safety nila at matiwasay ang kondisyon nila ‘pag sumalakay na nang husto sa Gaza, ‘yung ground assault ng Israel,” he stressed.
He added “potentially, 135 ang Filipino nationals [ang nasa Gaza]… Pero hindi natin inaasahan, we don’t expect na aabot sa 100 ang tatawid talaga (sa Rafah Crossing) dahil ‘yung nakita lang sa crossing nu’ng umpisa, 78. Hanggang 80 lang ang interested.”
The Rafah border crossing has yet to be opened as of Saturday pending negotiations between Israel and Egypt.
De Vega, however, said they were told that the border crossing will be opened anytime.
“Inaasahan natin na matapos na ‘yung mga negotiations. May construction pa raw ng kalsada na kailangan pang tapusin agad eh.
So wala pa. Pero at any moment’s notice, puwede na silang tumawid kung sakaling magbukas,” he added.
Israel urged civilians to move to south of Gaza as Israeli soldiers prepare for ground offensives to eradicate the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
