146 OFWs still in Sudan

A TOTAL of 146 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are still in war-torn Sudan, based on the latest count of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

In an online media briefing, DMW Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said that there are still 146 OFWs left in Sudan amid the mass evacuation efforts of the Philippine government.

"There are still around 146 OFWs that need to be contacted after they registered but did not manifest interest to be repatriated," said Cacdac.

He noted that a total of 595 OFWs have already exited Sudan after crossing the borders toward Egypt or the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

According to the official, they will exert all efforts to convince the remaining OFWs in Sudan to consider leaving the strife-torn country.

He said this is because they do not agree that there are still places in Sudan that are safe for OFWs.

"The situation is unpredictable. We cannot be certain which are the safe zones within Sudan. So, it's best to get out of Sudan and be repatriated so that we surely know that you are safe," said the official.

"There is a sincere effort to convince our fellow Filipinos to come home because the objective is to be free from harm and be safe. And if that is the goal, it is best to exit Sudan and come home," added Cacdac.

DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia seconded Olalia in saying OFWs in Sudan should not wait for the situation to further worsen before seeking repatriation.

He explained that this is because the longer they wait, the more difficult it would be to take them out of Sudan.

"We shouldn't wait any longer and still observe the situation, especially when your colleagues are already evacuating," he said.

"Let us not wait for the situation to worsen because it will be more difficult for them to get out of Sudan," added Olalia.

In April, clashes broke out across Sudan, particularly in the capital city of Khartoum, between the rival camps of Sudan military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

This forced the Philippine government to undertake a massive evacuation operation for the hundreds of OFWs in Sudan.

Cacdac is currently in Egypt to help oversee the repatriation efforts of the Philippine government. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)