Still 60 Pinoys stuck in Sudan

A total of 99 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were rescued from Sudan will arrive in the country on Sunday evening, the DMW said. Photo courtesy of DMW

Between 50 and 60 Filipinos remain in Sudan, with some asking for financial aid as they consider whether to evacuate the strife-stricken country, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official said on Wednesday. Speaking at the Laging Handa public briefing, DFA assistant secretary for migrant workers Paul Cortes said many of those remaining in Sudan are with their Sudanese spouses or with their employers. On the appeal of the remaining Filipinos for financial help, Cortes said DFA “will try our best to reach out to these people.” “Our problem in Sudan is that their banking systems are closed, so there’s really no way that we can give [financial] aid.” The embassy in Cairo is also processing the issuance of Philippine visas to the Sudanese spouses of the repatriated Filipinos so that they can rejoin their loved ones soon, he added. —JEROME ANING