Gov’t evacuates 409 Filipinos from Sudan

ALL MEANS POSSIBLE Refugees of all nationalities cross the river Nile in a ferry, after fleeing clashes in Khartoum, Sudan. —REUTERS

The Philippines has evacuated 409 Filipinos from conflict-torn Sudan as the government pushed for mass evacuation efforts following a three-day ceasefire declared on Tuesday.

Press Secretary Cheloy Velicaria Garafil said the Filipino evacuees have reached “safe zones” along Egypt’s border.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said in a report to Malacañang that of the 409 evacuated Filipinos, 335 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and family members left Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, on April 26 for Egypt via the Wadi Halfa Highway.

The DMW said another 35 OFWs and 15 students were safely evacuated to Egypt with the help of Filipinos in Sudan and DMW officials.

Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople and Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac have visited Cairo to assist in the government’s evacuation measures.

Violence erupted in Sudan on April 15 following a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group. Alert level 3

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has raised alert level 3 in Sudan, which means voluntary repatriation or evacuation, due to the ongoing conflict in the African nation.

Garafil said acting Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. had already coordinated with the DFA for the repositioning of defense attaché from the United Arab Emirates and Israel to help the Philippine Embassy in Cairo evacuate Filipinos from Sudan. Since the violence erupted, at least 512 people were killed and about 4,000 individuals were injured.

Ople, who is currently in Sudan to assist displaced OFWs, said some Filipinos were already being evacuated by their employers.

“But of course, you also have to respect the plans made by their employers to bring their Filipino employees to the Port of Sudan because there’s a hotel there and the border is across the Red Sea to Jeddah,” Ople said.

Temporary jobs and lodging

Upon their arrival, the Filipinos will be repatriated to the Philippines through commercial flights.

Ople said they are also communicating with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to find temporary jobs and lodging for the displaced Filipinos.

Meanwhile, Kabayan party list Rep. Ron Salo, who chairs the House committee on overseas workers affairs, said his panel is closely monitoring developments in conflict-torn Sudan and is prepared to back efforts to ensure the safety of Filipinos abroad. According to Salo, the DFA has informed his committee that the Philippine Embassy in Cairo is coordinating repatriation efforts and making arrangements for the safe and immediate return of our workers.

READ: Gov’t readies help for Filipinos in Sudan