Phl peacekeepers to pull out of Ebola-stricken Liberia

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippine military said today that over 100 peacekeepers from the country deployed in Liberia will be repatriated next month due to the risk posed by an Ebola disease outbreak in the West African country.

Military chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr. said President Benigno Aquino III has given the order to withdraw the UN peacekeepers from Liberia on Nov. 10.

Catapang said the peacekeepers will not be given a hero's welcome by the Philippine military upon their arrival because they have to be quarantined for 21 days to ensure that they are free from the deadly Ebola virus.

According to the WHO, a total of 8,399 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of Ebola have been reported in seven affected countries, including Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain and the United States as of Oct. 8, while the death toll was 4,033.

Last month, the Philippine government withdrew some 300 peacekeepers deployed on the Golan Heights due to an escalating conflict between the Syrian government and rebel forces.