MANILA, Philippines — At least one Filipino was hurt amid escalating clashes between Sudanese troops and paramilitary forces in Khartoum, said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega on Thursday said it may have been mere “hearsay” but later confirmed that a Filipino migrant worker, who sells fish in the embattled country, was injured.
“Confirmed on [injured] Pinoy. Just grazed [by a bullet]. He has recovered,” de Vega told INQUIRER.net in a text message.
De Vega noted that the injured Sudan-based Filipino “wants to keep a low profile as he might not have legal status in Sudan.”
The DFA also confirmed that about 86 Filipinos in the violence-stricken country had requested to be rescued — 39 are asking to be repatriated, while 47 others are seeking relocation.
READ: DFA: 86 Filipinos in Sudan asked for rescue, repatriation amid deadly clashes
According to the United Nations, at least 200 people were killed and 1,800 injured from the fighting that was triggered by power struggles between Sudan’s Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who leads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.