More than 600 Pinoys out of Sudan

THE Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA) on Monday said at least 616 Filipinos have been evacuated out of Khartoum, Sudan, while more will be repatriated to the Philippines in the next few days.

DFA Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes revealed that of the 616 Filipinos who left Khartoum, 414 were already in Egypt, while others were either at the Sudan-Egypt border or at Port Sudan bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

According to the official, around 750 Filipinos in Sudan – most of whom are undocumented – have pleaded for help from the Philippine government amid the ongoing clashes there between the Sudanese military and a paramilitary group.

The first batch of repatriates from Sudan consisting of 17 Filipinos arrived in Manila on Saturday.

“Tonight there are 15 Filipinos who will be repatriated. In the next few days, there’s something like 60. Our compatriots are coming back to the Philippines little by little,” Cortes said, in an interview with radio DzBB.

The DFA earlier said that despite the conflict in Sudan, there are still less than a hundred Filipinos who decided to stay there because of their families and other work commitments.

In a television interview, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega urged Filipinos who remain in Sudan to also consider being repatriated.

“I think we can say that everybody who wanted to leave Khartoum, has left Khartoum. Eventually, there may be more that may be coming in the next few days,” he said on ANC.

De Vega said that the DFA has already spent about $1 million to sustain its relief and repatriation efforts for the affected Filipinos.