DMW: No Pinoys reported hurt, killed amid Israel-Hezbollah war

No Filipinos have been reported hurt or killed amid the continued hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, according to Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac on Tuesday.

"We hope it stays that way at sana mag-improve ang sitwasyon," Cacdac said in an interview on Unang Balita.

Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging heavy fire with Israeli warplanes carrying out the most intense bombardment in almost a year of conflict across Lebanon's south and Hezbollah firing rockets deep into northern Israel.

The Lebanese health ministry said at least 492 were killed and 1,645 were wounded due to the Israeli strikes. Among the fatalities were 35 children and 58 women, it added.

The Israeli military said it had struck about 800 targets connected to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and the area of the Bekaa valley.

According to Cacdac, there are less than a hundred Filipinos in the southern Lebanon, which is near the border with Israel.

"Sa border mismo walang Pilipino pero sa (there are no Filipinos in the border but in the) southern cities and towns around less than a hundred," Cacdac said, adding that most Filipinos in Lebanon are based in Beirut.

Lebanon remains under Alert Level 3, which means voluntary repatriation.

Cacdac said some 430 Filipinos have already availed of the government's free repatriation, nearly a hundred of them just this September.

The Philippine government is urging Filipinos in Lebanon to evacuate while commercial flights are still available.

"We join the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) at ang embahada natin sa Beirut na bilang panawagan ay umuwi na habang bukas pa ang mga airport," Cacdac said.

(We join the DFA and our embassy in Beirut in the appeal for Filipinos to return to the Philippines while airports in Lebanon are still open.)

Immigration processing in Lebanon, for those who would avail of the Philippine government's repatriation offer, will take one to two weeks, Cacdac said.

In a new advisory on Monday, the Philippine Embassy in Lebanon called on Filipinos to stay indoors and closely monitor communications as the violence continues to escalate.

"Filipinos in South Lebanon are advised to stay put and remain indoors until the bombing subsides and wait for the situation to stabilize," the embassy said.

The embassy also called on Filipinos to regularly check local news updates on safety and security amid the military operations.

"Filipino nationals residing in Lebanon are advised to remain vigilant and stay informed, following recent hostilities in South Lebanon. Your safety is our primary concern. It is essential to take these communications seriously while exercising caution and judgment," the embassy said.

Filipinos were also advised to communicate with the Philippine Embassy, at 70 858 086, and the Migrant Workers Office, at 79 110 729, in Lebanon. — KBK/VDV, GMA Integrated News