Sunday Times 2
Philippines to repatriate its UN troops in Liberia over Ebola fears
View(s):MANILA, Aug 23 (AFP) -The Philippines said today it will repatriate over 400 of its troops serving as UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights and Liberia amid security threats and concerns over the Ebola virus.
Passengers are screened as they arrive at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. Asian nations are using thermal imaging cameras and posting doctors at airports to screen out sick travellers as health authorities scramble to avert any outbreak of the Ebola virus (REUTERS)
“To ensure the safety and security of the Philippine military troops deployed to conflict-affected areas, the country’s contingents in the Golan Heights and Liberia are scheduled to be repatriated within the year,” a Defence Department statement said.
“The 331-strong Filipino contingent serving as part of the United Nations Disengagement Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights will be repatriated at the end of their tour of duty in October,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, about 115 Filipinos serving in Liberia would be repatriated “as soon as possible,” due to the health risk posed by the Ebola virus outbreak in Africa, the statement added.
He expressed confidence the pullout would not hurt the country’s standing with the United Nations, recalling that Filipino troops had remained in the Golan Heights in 2013 even after Australian, Croatian and Japanese peacekeepers were withdrawn.
“However the situation has become more volatile with increased security risk, hence the recommendation and subsequent approval for repatriation,” he said in a statement to AFP.
Galvez also said that the Filipinos from Liberia would be quarantined for at least 21 days after arriving to ensure they are not infected.
| WHO says drawing up six-nine month strategy to combat Ebola GENEVA (Reuters) – The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday that it had drawn up a draft strategy plan to combat Ebola in West Africa over the next six to nine months, implying that it does not expect to halt the epidemic this year. |