Philippines to send evacuation vessels to Lebanon

The Philippine Coast Guard will send two ferry ships Wednesday to Beirut, where the vessels will be used as sea shuttles for the mass evacuation of Filipino workers from Lebanon to Cyprus or any safe ports in nearby countries, officials said on Sunday.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo finally approved the Coast Gaurd's proposal to sail to the Mediterranean Sea to help ferry thousands of Filipino workers from war-torn Lebanon to any safe and friendly ports in nearby countries, said Joseph Coyme, commander of the Coast Guard.

Coyme said the sea route planned to evacuate Filipinos from Lebanon has become the practical and safe option, following the destruction of vital bridges and roads being used by Philippine contingents to carry aboard buses trapped Filipino workers from Beirut to Damascus, Syria.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos said Manila will secure proper clearance from the Israeli Navy to allow Philippine sea vessels to approach Lebanese ports for evacuation of Filipinos.

Conejos said some 450 Filipinos were able to flee on Saturday from Beirut to northern Syria using untried coastal land route aboard buses.

So far more than 2,200 Filipinos have returned home from Lebanon while thousands more were yet to be repatriated in the following weeks.

Source: Xinhua