Tired, sleepless Filipinos happy to be safe in Egypt out of Gaza

The journey of 40 Filipinos to Egypt from Gaza was long and exhausting, but they said they are happy to finally leave the embattled enclave towards a safe zone.

The fresh batch of Filipinos to flee the war are thankful that they would no longer hear explosions, they can eat normally and can live without fearing for their safety, according to a "24 Oras" report by Raffy Tima.

Aboard a bus rented by the Philippine Embassy, the Filipinos, which included 19 minors, three babies and two pregnant women, travelled from Ismailia to Suez Canal heading to Cairo in Egypt at dawn.

They waited for three hours at the Palestinian side of the Rafah border, then another 10 hours at the Egypt side where authorities examined their documents.

Sleepless and tired, the Filipinos said they are relieved to be finally heading home.

Minerva, one of the repatriates, said she is leaving Gaza after 23 years.  She said that after encountering many conflicts, the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas is the worst.

"Grabe na kasi, ngayon lang ako nakaranas ng ganito," she said

Asmaa, who is due to give birth this month, narrated feeling like giving birth during their trip.  She said she is in good condition now.

"I feel fine now that I'm out of Gaza," she said

For Samarah, leaving Gaza brings mixed emotions.

"I feel happy that I'm safe for once in the past month, but I'm also very sad to have left Gaza," she said.

A Palestinian was allowed to join the group to be with her Filipino husband and children.

At least four Filipinos left Gaza, but decided to remain in Egypt.  Egyptian authorities, however, did not allow this as they only hold transit visas.

To date, around 100 Filipinos remain in Gaza. Many have expressed interest to leave after knowing about the Palestinian who was allowed to leave with her family.

On Thursday, a total of 49 Filipinos and 11 Palestinians married to Filipinos are expected to cross the border.

"It's definitely a pleasure to be able to come up with the result and we are glad that 40 Filipinos and one Palestinian spouse have reached with us today here in Cairo," Philippine Ambassador to Egypt Ezzedin H. Tago said.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News