Philippines ramps up repatriation efforts in Lebanon as Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalates

The Philippine government is working to get more Filipinos out of Lebanon as the armed conflict between Israeli forces and the Hezbollah paramilitary group worsens, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said over the weekend.

In an interview over ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac reported they were able to repatriate thus far 13 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including three children on Saturday.

The operation is part of broader evacuation efforts triggered by the rising tensions, with Lebanon now under Alert Level 3, allowing for voluntary repatriation.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is coordinating with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to facilitate the repatriation process.

Cacdac said an additional 45 Filipinos are expected to return to the Philippines next week. He assured that “onsite monitoring” and shelters are in place for Filipinos still in Lebanon, where around 300 have requested assistance for repatriation in recent months.

Filipinos in Lebanon are urged to contact the DMW hotlines for assistance as the situation remains volatile.

The urgency of these efforts comes as the conflict intensifies in Lebanon. An Israeli airstrike in the Nabatieh region already killed 10 Syrians, including a woman and her two children, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

Hezbollah responded by launching Katyusha rockets into northern Israel, sparking multiple fires but causing no casualties.

As violence continues to escalate, with significant casualties on both sides, there are growing fears of a broader Middle East war.

Diplomatic efforts, led by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, are underway to broker a ceasefire, but a resolution remains elusive.

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