Some OFWs in Khartoum rent bus to go to Sudan's border with Egypt

Some overseas Filipino workers in Sudan have rented a bus to go to its border with Egypt to flee the violence in the country.

According to Raffy Tima's report on "24 Oras", Anthony Buhay, an OFW in Khartoum, on Sunday night

said buses may proceed to Port Sudan or nearby provinces because of a ceasefire.

He said OFWs may be advised to gather in one place so that they could easily be fetched if their cellphone signals are lost.

“Kaya po, magagawan po ng paraan kasi naka ceasefire po, puwede pong bumiyahe ang bus papunta pong Port Sudan o sa mga probinsiya po ng Sudan. Sana po ganun na po muna ang gawin sa amin hanggat hindi po kayo makapasok,” said Buhay.

(They can do something now because the forces are on ceasefire. It is safe to travel towards the Port of Sudan or nearby provinces.)

“Maghanap ng lugar na pwede kaming pagipon-ipunin para sa ganun mas madali po para sa inyo yung pag rescue sa amin kung sakaling wala na kaming mga contact,” he added.

(They can look for for a place where we can go so it would be easier for us to be rescued.)

The OFW, however, already rented a busgo to the border between Sudan and Egypt.

He hoped that the trip would be smooth and that officials from the Philippine embassy would be at the area.

The DFA said three Filipino employees of Saudia Airlines were earlier rescued by their employers. It also said more OFWs will be evacuated to the Port of Sudan in the next 24 hours.

The agency likewise asked the migrant workers to wait for their advisory as regards their pick up from the buses. 

“Hindi ka pwedeng umalis ng Sudan kapag wala kang papeles. ‘Yung iba wala silang valid passport,” said DFA Undersecretary Jose de Vega.

(They cannot exit without papers. Some of them do not have valid passports.)

“Hindi ito para maiwan sila sa Egypt o lumipat ng bansa. Uuwi sila ng Pilipinas, handa ang pamahalaan ng Pilipinas na bigyan sila ng plane tickets,” he added.

(And this is not to remain in Egypt or change countries. They will go home to the Philippines.) —NB, GMA Integrated News