DFA: Less than a hundred Filipinos remain in Sudan

Less than a hundred Filipinos decided to stay in Sudan despite the ongoing clashes between the Sudanese military and a paramilitary group, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Sunday.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, DFA Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes explained that the Filipinos who stayed in Sudan did so because of their families and other work commitments.

Nevertheless, he said the Philippine government would assist them should they decide to evacuate.

“Nandun pa rin ang ating honorary consulate. The only way that we can really make sure na alam natin kung nasaan sila if they communicate with our honorary consulate and of course, with the Embassy in Cairo,” Cortes said.

(Our honorary consulate is still there. The only way for us to know where they are would be if they communicate with our honorary consulate and, of course, with the Embassy in Cairo.)

“[Ito’y] para malaman namin each and every step of the way kung may pera ba sila, kumusta na sila, nasugatan ba sila, gusto na ba nila lumikas? If and when mag-decide sila na talagang lilikas na sila or lilikas ‘yung kanilang mga amo…at least alam natin kung nasaan sila,” he added.

(This is the way for us to know if they have money, how they are, if they are injured, or if they want to evacuate. If and when they decide to really evacuate or if their employers will evacuate... at least we know where they are.)

Meanwhile, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople appealed to Filipinos with second thoughts about leaving Sudan to take advantage of the ceasefire extention.

“May mga nagdadalawang isip pa kaya nakikiusap kami, now is the time talaga na makaalis kayo habang nagho-hold pa ang ceasefire,” she said in a separate dzBB interview.

(There are those who are having second thoughts. We are appealing to you, now is really the time for you to leave while the ceasefire is still there.)

The first batch of evacuees from Sudan, 17 Filipinos, arrived in Manila on Saturday.

There were also 340 Filipinos who had made it to Egypt after escaping the violence in Sudan, according to the DFA on Saturday.

Ople said they are targeting to repatriate these 340 Filipinos within the week.

There were also a hundred more Filipinos who have yet to travel from Khartoum to the border, while 14 others were waiting to cross the border into Egypt, she added.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega earlier said there could be around 700 Filipinos in Sudan, most of them undocumented. — DVM, GMA Integrated News