DFA excludes UAE from ‘Crisis Alert Levels in the Middle East’

The UAE, home to one million Filipinos, remains excluded from the list of “Crisis Alert Levels in the Middle East.”

The exclusion is contained in the advisory, which the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) released on Monday evening (afternoon in the UAE).

DFA “continues to coordinate closely with Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the region and has actively monitored the situation over the past 72 hours to ascertain the status of Filipinos in their respective jurisdictions. Our Posts remain on ground and vigilant.”

Four remain in Alert Level Four: Gaza under the responsibility of the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel and Philippine Embassy in Amman, Jordan; Syria, Philippine Embassy in Damascus; and Yemen under the responsibility of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“Unchanged” as Alert Level 2 are Iran with the Philippine Embassy in Tehran; Kurdistan, covered by the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad; Israel with the Philippine Embassy in the capital of Tel Aviv; and West Bank, under the constituency of the Philippine Embassy in Amman and the Philippine Embassy in Tel-Aviv.

From the advisory, Alert Level Four or the “Mandatory Evacuation Phase” is declared “in cases of large-scale civil conflict or full-blown external attacks. Filipinos are urged to evacuate and join government-led repatriation efforts. Travel to the affected country is prohibited.”

For this, the “concerned Post” – either a Philippine Embassy or a Philippine Consulate General – “fully implements its Contingency Plan and coordinates evacuation and repatriation operations.”

Alert Level 2 is the “Restriction Phase.” It is announced “when violence or instability spreads to neighbouring areas or when an external attack becomes imminent. Filipinos are advised to shelter in place and avoid high-risk areas.

Those planning to travel to the affected country are urged to exercise increased caution due to heightened security risks. The concerned Post activates its Contingency Plan.”

Gulf Today obtained the DFA advisory as on Monday morning, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had directed the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Health, Department of Labour and Employment (DoLE), Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Tourism, and the DoLE-affiliated Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, to make sure that the protection and welfare of the Filipinos in the Middle East are safeguarded.

It was DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac who announced before the Malacanang Press Corps about the activation of the inter-agency mobilisation.

The mobilisation consists of the guaranteed interconnectivity between families through the telecommunications sector, online medical/psychosocial support services and, in the event of mass evacuation or repatriation, re-mainstreaming in the Philippines or re-deployment abroad.

The Middle East is home to nearly 2.04 million contracted Filipinos and families, a big number of whom are inter-generational.

Back on the crisis levels, at Alert Level 3 are Iraq and Lebanon under the Philippine Embassy in Badgdad and Philippine Embassy in Beirut, respectively.

Alert Level 3 is the “Voluntary Repatriation Phase” whereby “unrest escalates significantly or when an external threat becomes imminent. Filipinos are advised to evacuate voluntarily through relocation or repatriation. Travel to the affected country is strongly discouraged due to serious risks to safety and security. The concerned Post activates its Contingency Plan and coordinates relocation or repatriation efforts with relevant government agencies.”

On Alert Level One is Jordan with the Philippine Embassy in Amman. Alert Level One means “internal disturbance or instability” are present.

It also means that “an external threat is limited to a specific area. Under this level, Filipinos are advised to take precautions and avoid non-essential movement. Those with travel plans to the affected country are advised to exercise normal caution and avoid affected areas. The concerned Post establishes a Crisis Management Team.”

DFA urges Filipinos in affected areas to follow the advisories of their host goverments, remain vigilant, and observe all relevant travel advisories.

On Feb. 28, the One Philippines Team in the UAE posted on their respective official websites and social medial platforms — Facebook and Instagram — precautionary measures and their respective contact numbers for Assistance-to-Nationals (OFWs), Assistance-to-Nationals (non-OFWs), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Services, Contract Verification, Consular and Other Concerns.