A June 6, 2011 press release by the Department of Foreign Affairs
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has raised the crisis alert level in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa to alert level 4, due to worsened politico-security situation in the city.
This was also after an attack at the Yemeni presidential palace happened, which left Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and some members of his government injured and seven presidential guards killed.
Alert level 4 entails mandatory evacuation and repatriation of Filipino nationals in an affected area at Philippine Government’s expense.
“In light of the worsening security situation in the city, we are asking Filipinos in Sanaa to get in touch with the Embassy team stationed there so they could be moved to a safer area, and then out of the country,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario said.
Alert level 3 is still in effect in other areas of Yemen.
The DFA raised last May 24 the crisis alert level to alert level 3 in Yemen, where it made available voluntary repatriation at government’s expense. In coordination with Department of Labor and Employment, a deployment ban was put in place. Likewise, all Filipinos are advised not to travel to Yemen at this time.
Filipinos in Yemen are also advised to call the Embassy teams in Sanaa and Aden immediately if they feel unsafe in the area they are residing and the teams can move them in a safe area. They are also asked not to venture outside if they feel that their safety is at risk.
The Embassy teams are headed by Philippine Ambassador Ezzedin Tago, who covers Yemen.
Since the voluntary repatriation started on May 30, some 27 Filipinos have returned home. Eight Filipinos arrived on May 30, followed by the arrival of eight Filipinos on June 3 and another batch of 11 on June 5.
Another batch of 48 Filipinos is expected to arrive in Manila on June 7 and another batch of five will be arriving on June 9, this time from the port city of Aden.
The Embassy teams are assisting the Filipinos in their repatriation to the Philippines, together with Philippine Honorary Consul in Sanaa Mohammad Al-Jamal.
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