A Ukrainian mother and her child stand outside a tent installed by the Romanian Emergency Service (IGSU) at the Siret border point with Ukraine, in Siret city March 1, 2022. – Approaching 680,000 people have fled Ukraine since the Russian military invasion on February 24, with the number rising rapidly. (Photo by Daniel MIHAILESCU / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-one Filipino seafarers from Ukraine have safely arrived in Moldova, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Wednesday.
The foreign affairs agency said in a statement that the 21 seafarers of M/V S-Breeze from Chornomorsk, Ukraine, arrived in Moldova in two batches on February 27 and March 1 through the assistance of Philippine Honorary Consul in Moldova Victor Gaina in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Budapest and the Philippine Consulate in Chisinau.
According to DFA, bulk carrier M/V S-Breeze has been in the dry dock for repairs at the Ilyichevsk Ship Yard in the Port of Odessa, Ukraine, since January 27. The crew had been staying in the vessel’s accommodations with enough provisions but requested repatriation due to the worsening conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
To date, 27 Filipinos are now evacuated from Ukraine to Moldova, the DFA said. The Philippine Embassy in Budapest and the Philippine Consulate in Chisinau assured that they will arrange the repatriation of the seafarers to Manila at the soonest possible time.
The DFA advised Filipinos who need repatriation assistance near the Moldova and Romania borders to contact the Philippine Embassy in Budapest through the following details:
Hungary
Budapest Philippine Embassy emergency hotline: +36 30 202 1760
ATN Officer Claro Cabuniag: +36 30 074 5656 (mobile) and +63 966 340 4725 (Viber)
Moldova
Honorary Consul Victor Gaina:
Mobile number (also WhatsApp) +37369870870
Email addresses: victor.gaina@phconsulate.md or consul@phconsulate.md
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