MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will be pulling out its citizens in West African states affected by the dreaded Ebola virus, including hundreds of soldiers supporting United Nations peacekeeping missions in Liberia and Golan Heights.
“We are preparing for the implementation of mandatory repatriation of Filipinos in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone in view of the threat posed by EVD,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said in a statement on Monday.
On Saturday, the Department of National Defense also said it would be pulling Filipino troops in Golan Heights and Liberia within the year because of safety and security concerns.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it would be raising alert level 4 very soon in the West African countries, which meant mandatory repatriation for the Filipinos.
There are 880 Filipinos in Guinea, 1,979 Filipinos in Sierra Leone, and 632 Filipinos in Liberia including 148 United Nations peacekeepers who were previously ordered to be brought home.
Crisis alert level 2, which meant a restriction phase, is still raised in the three West African countries. This currently prevents the deployment of newly hired workers in the region.
The DND earlier said in a statement that the Filipino troops in Golan Heights and Liberia would be repatriated soon because of the “volatile security environment” in the Middle East and North African region, and the rising health risk from the Ebola virus in Liberia.
There are currently 331 Army soldiers serving as UN peacekeepers in Golan Heights and 115 Navy soldiers in Liberia.
“The 331-strong Filipino contingent serving as part of the United Nations Disengagement Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights will be repatriated at the end of their tour of duty in October,” the DND said.
“Meanwhile, in light of the rising health risk posed by the outbreak of Ebola virus in Africa, the Filipino troops deployed to the UN Mission in Liberia will also be repatriated as soon as possible,” it also said.
