MANILA, Philippines — A total of 327 Overseas Filipino Workers have requested repatriation from Sudan, accounting for almost half of Filipinos staying in the war-torn country, Department of Migrant Workers chief Susan Ople said on Tuesday.
“According to Usec De Vega, 725 Filipinos have contacted Cairo Embassy in Egypt. Of that number, 327 now are requesting repatriation,” Ople said during the Palace briefing, citing Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega.
Ople said the number of repatriated Filipinos is expected to rise.
READ: Gov’t readies evacuation of 300 Filipinos from Sudan
“Will the numbers rise? Based on my experience as an OFW advocate, yes, the possibility is that the numbers will rise,” Ople added.
Warring factions in Sudan had agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire, and Ople said the Philippine government is doing its best to make the most out of it.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the government is currently gathering more information on the ground to better prepare and quickly bring Filipinos out of the African country.
Hostilities broke out on April 15 amid a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group, killing at least 427 people, according to a Reuters report.
READ: Sudan factions agree to 72-hour ceasefire as foreigners are evacuated