Over 300 Pinoys from Sudan reach Egypt
THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said more than 300 Filipinos in Sudan are now on Egyptian soil after safely crossing the border.
This, as foreign nationals and Sudanese civilians are rushing to evacuate to safer areas, taking advantage of the 72-hour ceasefire declared by the warring groups.
The foreign affairs department said 227 Filipinos recently arrived at the Egypt-Sudan border, joining the first batch of 50 who also traveled by land via government-rented buses from the capital Khartoum.
“They were met by (Philippine) Ambassador (to Egypt) Ezzedin Tago, having crossed the Egyptian-Sudanese border of Argeen aboard buses, which DFA leased for the Filipinos in Khartoum. There are now a total of 340 Filipinos from Sudan on Egyptian soil,” it said.
Meanwhile, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega, in a separate radio interview, said about 400 Filipinos were able to leave the capital, some of whom left through other means.
He said the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah is also working to facilitate the transit of Filipinos who used Port Sudan as an exit point.
“Pagdating sa Port Sudan mayroon doon na Saudi Arabia vessels na nagpi-pick up once a day, ang problema makikipagkumpitensya ka sa ilang libong ibang evacuees (Once they are in Port Sudan, there are Saudi Arabian vessels that pick up evacuees once a day but they have to compete with thousands of other evacuees),” he said.
“Ang ating konsulado sa Jeddah ay tumutulak para kumuha ng Filipinos, mga sampu (10) na ang nadala nila sa Saudi Arabia,” he added.
Some 700 Filipinos were living and working in Sudan.
On April 15, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) engaged in violent clashes to seize control of the east African nation of Sudan.
