MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday, August 15, called for the voluntary repatriation of Filipinos in Egypt as it raised crisis alert level 3 amid civil unrest in that country.

“This alert level 3 entails the voluntary repatriation of Filipinos in Egypt,” DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a text message.

Hernandez added: “The deployment of new workers, as well as the return to Egypt of vacationing workers, spouses of Egyptian nationals, Islamic university students, and their dependents, is likewise suspended.

He said Foreign Sec Albert del Rosario made this decision “in view of the escalating civil unrest and insecurity as well as the declaration of a month-long State of Emergency in Egypt.” The Philippines’ ambassador in Cairo recommended the raising of the crisis alert level.

In his statement, Hernandez said Del Rosario has instructed the embassy in Cairo to assist in repatriating Filipinos from Egypt.

Up to 6,000 Filipinos live there, he said.

Security forces stormed the Cairo protest camps of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi’s supporters in a long-anticipated assault Wednesday, August 14, that officials said led to almost 280 deaths across Egypt.

In response to the violence, the army-backed interim government imposed a month-long nationwide state of emergency and curfews in Cairo and 13 other provinces.

Authorities said 278 people were killed, including 43 policemen, with many of the deaths in Cairo but with the violence spreading from the capital and claiming lives across the country.

The state of emergency went into effect at 4 pm (1400 GMT), with what will be a daily 11-hour curfew beginning at 7 pm. – with reports from the Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com