Bulletin: Update No. 8 DFA: We Are Not Leaving Anyone Behind

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) welcomes home distressed Filipinos from Lebanon on 25 January 2020. (DFA File Photo by Philip Adrian Fernandez)

(UPDATED) PASAY CITY 11 August 2020 — With protesters taking to the streets for days and the surprised resignation of the Lebanon government, the Department of Foreign Affairs intensifies its operations to bring home the Filipinos in the country the soonest.

"We are not leaving anyone behind," declared Migrant Workers Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Y. Arriola.

"The DFA and its Embassy in Beirut are taking all necessary actions to guarantee the safety of our overseas Filipinos who are still in Lebanon. More steps will be implemented in the coming days to see this through," added the Undersecretary.

The first of the DFA chartered-flights from Beirut is expected to land in Manila this 17 August at 1325H. Some 400 overseas Filipinos are expected to join the flight.

"This repatriation will be the first in a number of repatriation flights that the DFA will mount to bring home our kababayans who want to come home. These flights shall be free and at no cost to our overseas Filipinos from Lebanon," ended Undersecretary Arriola. 

Around 31,000 Filipinos remain in Lebanon. END