Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2) — Two Filipino doctors have successfully exited the Gaza Strip in a bid to find safer ground in Egypt amid the escalating war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Thursday.
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega confirmed the two Filipino physicians were among the 22 staff of international humanitarian organization “Doctors Without Borders (DWB)” who were able to exit through the Rafah crossing point.
Based on available information, the two were identified as Dr. Darwin dela Cruz and Dr. Regidor Esguerra.
DWB also confirmed the movement.
\”Today, all international MSF staff who had been unable to leave the Gaza Strip since October 7 successfully crossed the Egyptian border via the Rafah Crossing. This occurred following negotiations for foreign passport holders and international aid workers to cross,\” DWB said in a statement on Nov. 1.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source, DWB director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Paul McPhun said the two Filipino doctors play an important role in their organization. The nature of their work is medical coordination, meaning they oversee all medical activities, make sure the team has essential supplies, and liaise with everybody in the team, among others.
DWB added a number of severely injured patients have also been allowed to cross to receive critical care. However, there are still over 20,000 injured people in Gaza with limited access to health care due to the siege by Israel.
It also said a new team of international staff, including a specialized medical team, has already been identified and is ready to enter Gaza — as soon as the situation allows — to support the humanitarian and medical response to help overwhelmed hospitals and assist in the healthcare system that is “facing total collapse.”
“The bare minimum that has to happen is a ceasefire. When there’s a ceasefire you can have at least some semblance of security and with the ceasefire you can then scale up and ramp up the corridor of humanitarian assistance,” McPhun said.
International Committee of the Red Cross regional spokesperson for Africa Alyona Synenko told CNN Philippines there seems to be no safe place in Gaza as the situation worsens amid the continued bombing. In one hospital they visited, people were sleeping in staircases and corridors because of their desperation to find a safer place to stay in, she said.
Synenko said they have over 100 staff deployed across the crisis-stricken Palestinian enclave. Treating patients is becoming more difficult as their medical supplies are running low.
In a radio interview on Thursday, De Vega said 134 Filipinos are situated in the Gaza Strip and 115 have expressed the desire to cross to Egypt.
In an update, DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said a total of 115 Filipinos are just awaiting the green light to cross the border.
“Only 19 Filipinos remain undecided, including the one Filipino nun,” Daza added.
Alert Level 4 was raised by the DFA in Gaza on Oct. 15, which means repatriation of Filipinos is now mandatory.
