Filipinos who fled Sudan complain of lack of proper assistance from embassy

Filipinos who fled Sudan complained of a lack of proper assistance from the Philippine embassy after reaching the border between the conflict-torn country and Egypt.

At least 51 Filipinos, mostly students of Islamic studies, made it to the Sudan-Egypt border after three days of traveling from the Sudanese capital of Khartoum.

They had hoped that the personnel of the Philippine embassy in Cairo, which also has jurisdiction over Sudan, would be readily available to facilitate their entry into Egypt, but this did not happen.

“Sinabi sa amin, naghihintay na po sila sa border atsaka paghintay nila sa border, sabi nila, darating kami ng alas diyes ng umaga. Hanggang sa umabot ng ala una, wala pong dumating, sabi 30 minutes to 45 minutes na naman, hintay kayo ng 45 minutes kasi parating na kami hanggang alas kuwatro ng hapon, sinabi na naman sa amin 30 minutes hanggang sa umabot po ng gabi walang dumating na tulong sa amin,” said Haniph Bin Michael Francisco, a student in Sudan, in Raffy Tima’s report on “24 Oras.”

At the border, an Egyptian honorary consul arrived but soon left them. The Filipinos were forced to spend the night on the side of the road without anything to eat or drink. 

Another evacuee, "Juan," claimed that the developments ran counter to what the embassy had assured them would happen.

“Ang sabi sa akin, pupunta tayo ng Egypt. Sabihin mo sa mga kababayan mo, Egypt tayo pi-pickup-in. Tapos pagdating ng border, nandoon ang embassy (staff) nakaantabay, may pagkain, mayroong accommodation, mayroong tubig,” the overseas Filipino worker said.

According to the Philippine embassy, they have already spoken with Egypt's foreign ministry about how to ensure Filipinos' entry into the country.

Around 300 Filipinos were still on their way to the Sudan-Egypt border, including John Emil Deza, an OFW, and his mother. About 350 Filipinos have requested repatriation, the report said.
 
The violence in Sudan erupted between the forces of the two generals who seized power in a 2021 coup: the army chief and his deputy, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

A Filipino was injured amid the armed conflict. —VBL, GMA Integrated News