Phl workers in Egypt warned to prepare for possible evacuation

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippine government warned today overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Egypt to prepare for a possible evacuation amid the deteriorating peace and order situation there in the wake of fresh clashes following the overthrow of the Morsi government.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said that crisis alert level two has been raised in Egypt, which also strongly advised Filipinos there to take precautionary measures, such as avoiding public places.

The alert level also prevents non-essential trips or the deployment of new hires to Egypt, while OFWs who have yet to register with the embassy should already do so, said Hernandez.

"Upon the advice of our embassy in Cairo, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs has raised crisis alert level two over Egypt, in view of the deteriorating peace and order situation in the country. All Filipinos in Egypt are advised to restrict non-essential movements, avoid public places, and to prepare for possible evacuation," he said at a press briefing.

Hernandez said the DFA is continuously monitoring the situation in Egypt and coordinating with the Philippine embassy there, which will make a determination whether to upgrade the crisis alert level should the situation proved worse.

Crisis alert level three means the beginning of voluntary evacuation.

After only a year in office, Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi was ousted from his post last week by the military after days of mass protests in Cairo.

DFA figures showed that there are about 5,953 Filipinos in Egypt.