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Wednesday, January 08, 2020, 14:09
Manila orders Iraq evacuation, multiple carriers divert flights
By Reuters
Wednesday, January 08, 2020, 14:09 By Reuters

This photo taken from a rooftop on Dec 3, 2019, shows a general view of Tahrir square in the center of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. (HUSSEIN FALEH / AFP)

MANILA/WASHINGTON/TAIPEI/TOKYO - The Philippines has ordered its citizens to leave Iraq, the Philippine foreign ministry said on Wednesday, after Iran attacked US forces there in response to a US strike that killed an Iranian general last week. 

"The alert level in the entire Iraq has been raised to alert level 4 calling for mandatory evacuation," said Eduardo Menez, spokesman at the Department of Foreign Affairs. 

The department said there are 1,600 Filipinos working in Iraq, more than half in the Kurdistan region and the rest at US and other foreign facilities in Baghdad and in commercial establishments in Erbil.

"Overseas Filipino workers will be brought to safer ports where there may be airlifted, as the need arises," Philippine coastguard said in a statement

A Philippine coastguard patrol vessel, newly acquired from France and en route to the Philippines, was ordered to sail to Oman and Dubai to assist Filipinos who may need to be extricated.

"Overseas Filipino workers will be brought to safer ports where there may be airlifted, as the need arises," the coastguard said in a statement.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who heads a newly created committee to prepare the evacuations, said on Tuesday the government was preparing aircraft for Filipinos in Iraq and Iran who wished to come home or move to safer areas.

ALSO READ: Iran launches missiles against US forces in Iraq, Pentagon confirms

About 2.3 million people from the Philippines are working in the Middle East as domestic helpers, construction workers, engineers and nurses.

They sent home US$5.4 billion in remittances in January to October last year, accounting for a fifth of total remittances for that period, making the region a major source of foreign exchange inflows which help drive growth in the consumption-led Philippine economy.

Iran's missile attack on US-led forces in Iraq came in the early hours of Wednesday, hours after the funeral of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's elite Quds Force who was killed in a US drone strike on Jan 3.

There has been no confirmation of any casualties in the missile attacks.

India issued a travel warning asking its citizens to avoid "non-essential" travel to Iraq, hours after the attacks.

"In view of the prevailing situation in Iraq, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Iraq until further notification," India's foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Indian nationals residing in Iraq are advised to be alert and may avoid travel within Iraq," it said, adding that the Indian embassy in Baghdad and consulate in Erbil remain operational.

In Tokyo, TV Asahi reported on Wednesday that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will cancel plans to visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman this weekend.

Flight diversion

The US Federal Aviation Administration said it would ban US carriers from operating in the airspace over Iraq, Iran, the Gulf of Oman and the waters between Iran and Saudi Arabia after the missile attack.

ALSO READ: US has stirred up a hornet's nest

Other airlines have also taken similar measures.

Singapore Airlines Ltd said that all of its flights would be diverted from Iranian airspace. Malaysia Airlines said it did not fly over Iraqi airspace and would re-route to avoid Iran as a result of the attack. Taiwan's China Airlines said that it will not fly over Iran or Iraq due to regional tensions, while Eva Air said it will avoid Iranian airspace.

Transport Canada said it was in close contact with the FAA about the situation in the Middle East and that Air Canada was altering its routes.

India's aviation regulator has not issued formal instructions to airlines yet but has held meetings with those concerned and advised them to remain vigilant and take precautions, an official said.

United Arab Emirates airline flydubai cancelled a flight to Baghdad on Wednesday after the attack.

Its flights to the Iraqi cities of Basra and Najaf would operate on Wednesday, the airline said.


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