Repatriation of Filipinos in Afghanistan in full swing, DFA assures听
THE听REPATRIATION of 130 Filipinos working in Afghanistan is in full swing, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said, with 32 already flown out to Doha and 19 set to leave as of Monday morning.听
The other听79 are in contact with the Philippine Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, DFA said in an advisory Monday after the declaration of a high alert warning for听Afghanistan听鈥渄ue to the uncertain security situation in the country鈥澨齠ollowing the Taliban鈥檚 takeover of government.听听听
鈥淭he Department and its Foreign Service Posts in the region and beyond are exploring all avenues of cooperation and are closely coordinating with governments and international partners to guarantee their immediate and safe passage,鈥澨齣t said.听听听
Foreign Affairs听Secretary Teodoro F. Locsin said in a tweet that after the repatriation mission is completed, Philippine authorities will have to focus on preventing the trafficking of Filipinos to Afghanistan under Taliban rule.听听
鈥淲e鈥檙e already out of there,鈥澨齅r. Locsin听said.听鈥淲hen the last Filipino is out; we鈥檙e shutting down that aspect as well. Now the job is to prevent Filipino trafficking to that place.鈥澨听
The country鈥檚 top diplomat also expressed support to听United Nations Secretary-General Ant贸nio听Manuel O.听Guterres, who said on Twitter听that听鈥渢he conflict in Afghanistan is forcing hundreds of thousands to flee amid reports of serious human rights violations. All abuses must stop. International humanitarian law and human rights, especially the hard-won gains of women and girls, must be preserved.鈥澨听
鈥淧hilippines joins your appeal,鈥澨齅r. Locsin said.听鈥斕Alyssa Nicole O. Tan听
