DFA REMINDS FILIPINOS WORKING IN AFGHANISTAN TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION AS VIOLENCE SURGES
05 August 2018 - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) extended its condolences to Afghanistan and advised the remaining Filipinos there to exercise extreme caution in the wake of escalating violence that has left more than 200 dead last month alone.
The DFA said the Philippine Embassy in Islamabad, which has jurisdiction over Afghanistan, is also reminding the public that a travel and deployment ban to Afghanistan remains in effect and strongly advises against any travel there until further notice.
The Embassy issued the advisory to the 1,500 Filipinos who are working mostly in military bases in Kabul and other locations in Afghanistan after two suicide bomb attacks at a mosque on Friday killed 30 people, including women and children.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Afghanistan who continue to suffer from the senseless violence being inflicted upon them,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said in a statement.
“We also join and support the Afghan government and people in their quest for peace, which is not beyond reach, as the Eid al-Fitr ceasefire last June had demonstrated,” the Secretary said.
“We ask our kababayan who are still in Afghanistan to exercise extreme caution and to avoid any movement outside of their work places,” Secretary Cayetano said.
The Secretary said that in view of the security situation, Filipinos there should seriously consider returning to the country. He said the Embassy is ready to repatriate those willing to go home.
Ambassador to Islamabad Daniel Espiritu said the latest suicide bombings followed a series of violent and frequent attacks across Afghanistan by both the Islamic State and the Taliban.
Ambassador Espiritu said that based on the records of the nongovernment Civilian Protection Advocacy Group in Kabul, the number of civilian casualties in July alone has reached 545, with 232 dead and 313 wounded.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) had earlier reported 5,122 civilian casualties--1,692 deaths and 3,430 injured--in the first half of 2018 alone.
“The international community has already raised its highest travel restrictions in Afghanistan due to the surge in kidnappings, hostage taking, suicide bombings, widespread military combat operations, landmines, and terrorist and insurgent attacks that target not only combatants but also civilians, including foreigners,” Ambassador Espiritu said. END