PH should rush to pull Filipinos out of Sudan amid ceasefire, says senators

Heavy smoke bellows above buildings in the vicinity of the Khartoum’s airport on April 15, 2023, amid clashes in the Sudanese capital. – Explosions rocked the Sudanese capital on April 15 as paramilitaries and the regular army traded attacks on each other’s bases, days after the army warned the country was at a “dangerous” turning point. (Photo by AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Tuesday said the Philippines should use the 72-hour ceasefire of warring forces in Sudan to immediately extract Filipinos from the strife-torn country.

The United States earlier announced the three-day truce, allowing foreign nations to evacuate their citizens from Sudan, where deadly clashes have erupted due to a power struggle between military and paramilitary factions.

READ: Sudan factions agree to 72-hour ceasefire as foreigners are evacuated

“We need to move fast,” Sen. Francis Tolentino said in a statement.

He took note of the hundreds of Filipinos in the conflict-ridden country that need to be brought to safety in Egypt.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Embassy in Cairo has registered 740 Filipinos in Sudan and at least 350 of them have sought assistance for repatriation as of April 24.

“The government should hire buses at once to ensure their quick repatriation given the deteriorating condition in Sudan. We should likewise seek the assistance of Egypt and from Cairo, we can fly them to Manila,” Tolentino said.

Sen. Imee Marcos, chair of the upper chamber’s foreign relations panel, echoed the need for the Philippines to take advantage of the opportunity to pull Filipinos out of the battle-stricken African country as the ceasefire clock continues to tick.

“Mukhang malala ang sitwasyon at hindi naman natin alam kung talagang gagalangin ang sinasabing ceasefire nang matagalan. Habang may panahon at pagkakataon, sana iuwi natin [ang mga Pilipino] sa lalong madaling panahon,” she said in an ambush interview.

(The situation seems intense and we don’t know for sure if the ceasefire will be honored that long. While we have the time and chance, we hope to bring the Filipinos home as soon as possible.)

Marcos said the Philippines should also charter flights that would airlift Filipinos out of Sudan as other countries had been doing to their citizens.

“Malamang kailangan din natin na gawin iyon dahil 400 Filipinos is quite a large number, and [it] will probably take more than a single flight. Malayo-layo rin ang Sudan at hindi rin available ang mga direct flight papunta roon at kinakailangan na rin pagisipan na,” she added.

(We may need to do that since 400 Filipinos is quite a large number, and it will probably take more than a single flight. Sudan is quite far, and no direct flights are going there, so we really need to think of these options.)

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had earlier said the government is preparing to evacuate Filipinos from Sudan in hopes that the 72-hour ceasefire will hold.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told INQUIRER.net that at least 69 Filipinos have started evacuating from Sudan – 50 were assisted by the government, while 19 others left with the help of their employers.

READ: 69 Filipinos evacuate from strife-torn Sudan 

JPV