Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered Wednesday the evacuation of all Filipinos from war-torn Lebanon, local radio DZMM reported.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the president ordered government officials to start working for the evacuation of more than 30,000 Filipinos working in Lebanon.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos told DZMM there are 18,999 Filipinos in Beirut.

The President's order came after she created Tuesday a special task force for the mass evacuation of Filipinos from Lebanon, with Vice President Noli de Castro, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Labor Secretary Arturo Brion to head the task.

Romulo Wednesday asked the Philippine diplomatic missions in the Middle East countries to use emergency funds and other financial means to help Filipinos leave Lebanon.

More than 2,000 Filipinos have returned home from Lebanon since military air strikes began in Lebanon two weeks ago.

Source: Xinhua