Philippine officials say they have issue a mandatory evacuation order for more than 1,000 Filipinos in the Libyan capital amid escalating fighting, rocket fire and airstrikes.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Emmanuel Fernandez announced that the Filipino government issued the order after the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli warned that it “could no longer guarantee the safety and security of Filipinos who chose to remain despite repeated appeals for them to go home.”

Foreign Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. says despite the order, officials cannot force Filipino workers and their dependents to abandon Tripoli.

Manila’s Ambassador in Tripoli, Elmer Cato, says he ordered the embassy’s roof to be partly covered with a huge Philippine flag in hopes it won’t be bombed.

As the fighting gets closer to us, the ability of @PhinLibya to respond to calls for assistance by Filipinos in distress becomes more difficult or even impossible to carry out. That’s why this early we ask our kababayan to let us help lead them out of harm’s way. @teddyboylocsin pic.twitter.com/GHe2Uboxd7

— Elmer G Cato (@elmer_cato) April 30, 2019

The embassy has evacuated six more Filipinos from Tripoli on Tuesday and are on their way to Tunis where they will board their flight for Manila.

Cato said the embassy has assisted 40 Filipinos in returning to the Philippines since the conflict in Tripoli erupted early this month.

Via New York Times