Filipino Catholic nun leaves war-torn Gaza: DFA

MANILA: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the last remaining Filipino, a Catholic nun, in Gaza has left the Strip and is now in Israel. The 63-year-old Filipino nun, whom the DFA declined to name, is a member of the Missionaries of Charity Sisters of Saint Teresa. In a text message on Tuesday, DFA Undersecretary for Migration Affairs Eduardo Jose de Vega confirmed that there are no Filipinos residing in the conflict-stricken enclave. But he declined to comment when asked how the nun was evacuated. 'It was totally confidential on part of her congregation. Word is she is fine," he said. In a separate interview with reporters on Monday, de Vega said the nun left Gaza 'not a few months ago' and is now in 'Israel or somewhere'. 'The church has moved her out. Syempre (of course) for safety," de Vega said. The Filipina has previously refused to leave the church in Gaza where she served. Last February, Philippine authorities reported that the church she was staying in was hit by 'sniper fire' and th at the Philippine Embassy in Jordan, which has jurisdiction over Gaza, lost contact with it due to a breakdown in communications. At the onset of the war between Hamas and Israel in October, the DFA raised alert level 4 in Gaza and called for the mandatory repatriation of the 137 Filipinos there. Of this number, de Vega said 133 went home under a government-sponsored repatriation program while the others either stayed in Egypt or went elsewhere. He said PHP16.6 million had been spent for the repatriation. Source: Philippines News agency