OVER 350 Filipinos were evacuated from the conflict-torn Sudan, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official said on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
In a television interview, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Eduardo de Vega said that at present, there were seven buses carrying almost 350 Filipinos going to the border of Egypt.
From the border, they will be brought to Aswan where they will board a flight going to Egypt’s capital, Cairo, then to the Philippines.
Earlier, the DFA said 50 Filipinos had also already been taken out from Sudan amid the armed conflict there while 23 were evacuated by their respective employers.
De Vega said more Filipinos from Sudan were seeking assistance for their evacuation. Around 700 Filipinos were living in Sudan.
There were also others who opted to travel to Egypt on their own. They were advised to contact the Philippine Embassy in Cairo (WhatsApp/Mobile: (+20) 122 743 6472; Facebook/Messenger: PHinEgypt; email: cairo.pe@dfa.gov.ph) should they experience problems entering the borders.
“Those waiting for government-coordinated transportation to evacuate Khartoum should await the Embassy’s advice on the availability of transportation options. We will notify you on the appropriate time and gathering point, once options become available. Notifications will come through the Embassy or the Consulate,” the Philippine Embassy in Egypt said in a statement.
De Vega said the Egyptian authorities are implementing stricter border controls and among the challenges they are facing is that most of the Filipino evacuees were undocumented or had expired passports.
The Philippine Embassy in Egypt has raised its alert status to Level 3 or the voluntary repatriation evacuation due to the ongoing political situation in the country.
“In this regard, the public is assured that the Philippine Embassy in Cairo is continuously monitoring the situation while providing repatriation assistance to Filipinos in Sudan,” it said.
A Filipino was injured amid the ongoing conflict but De Vega said he is already in a better condition.
Philippine Ambassador to Egypt Ezzedin Tago was also involved in a road accident while he was assisting in the ongoing evacuation. He said his vehicle rolled over but he was unharmed due to the airbag system of his car.
Since the conflict broke in Sudan on April 15, over 500 people have already been killed. (SunStar Philippines)