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Advocates Philippines
17 Filipino Evacuees from Sudan Arrive in Philippines
Photo credit: DFA
The first batch of Filipinos from conflict-hit Sudan arrived in the Philippines on Saturday, April 29, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
The 17 evacuees, consisting of hotel workers and a student, fled the country amidst escalating violence and instability.
According to the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA), eight of them were hotel workers in Sudan who boarded a military evacuation flight and were assisted by the Philippine Embassy in Athens. The Embassy received the group in Athens on Friday morning, April 28, and arranged for their flight back to the Philippines, through the DFA’s Assistance-to-Nationals Fund.
Meanwhile, the other nine evacuees, including an infant, fled Khartoum via Port Sudan and boarded a C130 plane of the Saudi Royal Air Force bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah received the group on April 27, and provided assistance to the evacuees by issuing travel documents to those who did not have their original passports with them.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) provided repatriation tickets for eight of the evacuees.
Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo expressed the Philippine government's commitment to assist overseas Filipinos in times of crisis.
"The Philippine government is working round-the-clock to assist our kababayans who have left Sudan", he said.
"Our DFA-led teams are present on the ground to facilitate the repatriation of these overseas Filipinos. Personnel from the DMW, OWWA, and the Department of National Defense have also been deployed to augment the evacuation efforts."
In addition to the successful repatriation of the 17 overseas Filipinos, the Philippine Embassy in Cairo and the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Sudan have also chartered buses for 391 Filipinos to cross the Egyptian side of the border.
The Embassy is currently arranging for their temporary visas and repatriation flights to the Philippines, while the DMW and OWWA are preparing for shelter and other welfare assistance during transit.
The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah is also providing support for another 45 overseas Filipinos who are expected to be evacuated by sea to Saudi Arabia.
"Our DFA offices and diplomatic missions concerned are determined to bring our people home safely, as soon as possible", Secretary Manalo assured. He also expressed gratitude to other countries who have provided assistance to the Philippines during the crisis.
The 17 evacuees, consisting of hotel workers and a student, fled the country amidst escalating violence and instability.
According to the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA), eight of them were hotel workers in Sudan who boarded a military evacuation flight and were assisted by the Philippine Embassy in Athens. The Embassy received the group in Athens on Friday morning, April 28, and arranged for their flight back to the Philippines, through the DFA’s Assistance-to-Nationals Fund.
Meanwhile, the other nine evacuees, including an infant, fled Khartoum via Port Sudan and boarded a C130 plane of the Saudi Royal Air Force bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah received the group on April 27, and provided assistance to the evacuees by issuing travel documents to those who did not have their original passports with them.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) provided repatriation tickets for eight of the evacuees.
Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo expressed the Philippine government's commitment to assist overseas Filipinos in times of crisis.
"The Philippine government is working round-the-clock to assist our kababayans who have left Sudan", he said.
"Our DFA-led teams are present on the ground to facilitate the repatriation of these overseas Filipinos. Personnel from the DMW, OWWA, and the Department of National Defense have also been deployed to augment the evacuation efforts."
In addition to the successful repatriation of the 17 overseas Filipinos, the Philippine Embassy in Cairo and the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Sudan have also chartered buses for 391 Filipinos to cross the Egyptian side of the border.
The Embassy is currently arranging for their temporary visas and repatriation flights to the Philippines, while the DMW and OWWA are preparing for shelter and other welfare assistance during transit.
The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah is also providing support for another 45 overseas Filipinos who are expected to be evacuated by sea to Saudi Arabia.
"Our DFA offices and diplomatic missions concerned are determined to bring our people home safely, as soon as possible", Secretary Manalo assured. He also expressed gratitude to other countries who have provided assistance to the Philippines during the crisis.
Apr 30, 2023
