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Earmarks Euro 11 M for speedy repatriation Filipinos among beneficiaries of largesse The Philippines is among the major recipients of the EU assistance program, the Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines said in a statement. "The Philippines stands to benefit from the allocation of 11 million euros to help around 10,000 citizens from developing countries return home from Lebanon," it said. Other countries that have large numbers of workers in Lebanon -- including Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Ghana, Vietnam, Nepal eastern European nations and Russia – are also expected to benefit from the program. "The EU is doing everything in its power to help civilians of all nationalities caught up in this conflict. Alongside all that is being done to help EU nationals get out of Lebanon, it is crucial that we bring third country nationals to safety," Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy, said. "The package announced will mean swift help for those who need it most, and help to avoid creating new humanitarian crises in transit countries," Waldner said, noting that there are about 100,000 to 200,000 workers from developing countries living in Lebanon at the time the Middle East crisis broke out last July 12. The allocation of 11 million euros is part of the European Commission’s Rapid Reaction Mechanism following the appeal of developing countries for help in the repatriation of their nationals from Lebanon. The package "will assist in evacuating the most vulnerable people and help the Lebanese authorities and developing countries evacuate those who remain in Lebanon, provide support and medical assistance to evacuees in transit countries (mainly Syria, Jordan and Cyprus) and help in a swift and orderly repatriation to their home countries," the Commission said. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) serves as the implementing arm of the program, the EU said. Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for the United Nations and Other Internal Organizations Aladin G. Villacorte said the IOM assured that it will assist in the orderly repatriation of 450 Filipino workers starting today. Nine buses will be used for the transportation of two batches of Filipino workers from Beirut to Damascus, Syria. They will be escorted by a diplomatic convoy, Villacorte said. The first batch of 250 Filipinos will be transported today while the rest is scheduled tomorrow. "The IOM has already communicated with the Israeli authorities to ensure the safe passage of the convoys," he said. The additional 450 Filipino workers will be flown via Boeing 747 aircraft on Aug. 1 and are expected to arrive on Aug. 2 at the Villamor Airbase Operation Center. "The IOM will shoulder all the costs for the buses, temporary shelter in Damascus including food and medical attention and chartered flight to Manila," Villacorte said. Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs spokesman Gilberto Asuque said the seventh batch of 62 OFWs, including two infants, arrived yesterday via Qatar Airways Flight 646 at the Ninoy Aquino International (NAIA). An additional 10 OFWs from Lebanon were scheduled to arrive at 6: 30 last night on board Cathay Pacific Airways Flight CX 903 from Hongkong. The ninth batch numbering 120 Filipinos is expected to arrive today aboard Thai Airways Flight TG 620 from Bangkok, Asuque said in a text message. In a related development, he said the Crisis Management Committee has sent another $ 150,000 to the Philippine embassy in Beirut to fund the operations. "Ambassador Bichara cabled us last Wednesday and we immediately sent them US$ 150,000," he said, citing that they have ironed out the "administrative" matters hounding the embassy. Earlier, Ambassador Francis Bichara reportedly said the embassy has unstable financial capability to fund the repatriation of the Filipinos in Lebanon. Upon Bichara’s request, a total of $ 100,000 (P5.2 million) had been given to the embassy as financial assistance since the start of the war. As of July 26, the embassy has $ 17,848 on hand and $ 69, 917.50 in the bank. Reacting to the statement of former Ambassador Roy Seneres questioning why Ambassador Roy Cimatu, the head of the Middle East Preparedness Team (MEPT), led the repatriation and not Bichara, Asuque said, "The President is in charge of Oplan Sagip, and we will implement the President’s instruction. We work as a team." More than 600 Filipino workers have arrived in Manila since the start of the repatriation process last July 23. The sixth batch of 25 Filipinos arrived last Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino International on board Cathay Pacific Airways Flight CX903 at 6:30 p.m. from Damascus via Hongkong. |
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