Filipinos in Libya told to exercise caution amid spate of attacks

(Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs has urged Filipinos in Libya to exercise caution when they travel following the spate of attacks there.

The DFA issued the advisory even as it announced that tensions from the recent clashes in Tripoli had disappeared, and that the situation had returned to normal.

The agency said no Filipinos were affected in the latest clashes.

“But anywhere when clashes take place, there is always the danger to innocent civilians of getting hit and injured in the crossfire, or becoming victims of indiscriminate shelling. Thus, (Overseas Filipino Workers) should exercise utmost care to flee from areas of clashes wherever they take place because of risk of crossfire and indiscriminate shelling,” the DFA said.

According to the agency, in particular, Filipino medical staff “should be aware that there are also armed attacks on hospitals.

It noted that the World Health Organization Libya Office has condemned an armed attack on the Al Jalaa Hospital in Benghazi.

Earlier, armed men also attacked the Al-Jalaa Hospital in Tripoli, the DFA said.

According to the DFA, “the safest place to stay during clashes is indoors.”

“It is best to anticipate clashes and to move to another city district of Tripoli outside the reach of shelling before the clashes begin,” the DFA added.