Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) — The Philippine government has reached out to the Egyptian foreign ministry to expedite visas for Filipinos attempting to cross the border from conflict-torn Sudan, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.
“Nakausap na po ni (Philippine) Ambassador (to Egypt Ezzedin) Tago ang Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Egyptian Foreign Minister tungkol sa kalagayan ng ating kababayan na nag-aabang ng entry visa para makapasok ng Egypt,” DFA Assistant Secretary for Migrant Workers Paul Cortes told CNN Philippines’ Politics As Usual.
[Translation: Philippine Ambassador to Egypt Ezzedin Tago has spoken with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Egyptian Foreign Minister about the condition of our countrymen who are awaiting entry visas to enter Egypt.]
Cortes said the Egyptian foreign minister has contacted the guards on the Egypt-Sudan border.“Hopefully, in the next few hours ay mapagbigyan na itong mga kababayan natin [our countrymen will be granted entry],” he added.Over 300 more Filipinos in violence-stricken Sudan are being evacuated amid the ongoing ceasefire between the warring Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
READ: Rival generals are battling for control in Sudan. Here’s a simple guide to the fighting
As of Wednesday, Cortes said 21 Filipino families are being assisted by the Philippine Embassy in Cairo, while around 50 Filipinos are currently stranded on the Sudanese side of the Egypt-Sudan border.
Among them is Norhad Ananaid Langiles, a Filipino studying in the capital Khartoum, who said that he along with other Filipinos on the border are waiting for their entry visas, adding that they do not have enough food and water.“Kanina sabi nila makakapasok daw kami sa Egypt kung meron kaming entry visa. Tinanong namin magkano ang babayaran. Medyo mahal at hindi namin kaya dahil wala kaming pera. Wala lahat. Kahit pagkain walą kami,” Langiles said on the program.[Translation: Earlier, they said that we can enter Egypt if we have an entry visa. We asked how much. It’s quite expensive and we can’t afford it because we don’t have money. We don’t even have food.]Because Manila does not have an embassy in Khartoum, Cortes said the Philippine embassy in Cairo is having difficulties sending help to Filipinos on the Sudanese side of the border.“Ang Philippine government ay nag-aabang po sa side ng Egypt border. Kapag nandoon na po kayo, ibibigay namin lahat ng kailangan niyo pati ticket pabalik ng Pilipinas,” Cortes assured.[Translation: The Philippine government is waiting on the side of the Egyptian border. ‘When you get there, we will give you everything you need, including a ticket back to the Philippines.]The DFA official said that aside from the first bus carrying the 50 Filipinos, seven more Philippine-commissioned buses from Khartoum are expected to arrive at the border within 24 to 36 hours.Cortes explained that Filipinos are not the only ones scrambling to get out of Sudan. He said other foreign nationals are also fleeing in droves, resulting in the scarcity of transportation.
He also said that the Philippine embassy in Cairo is waiting for the go-signal from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry to allow a Philippine official to cross the border to Sudan in order to extend help to stranded Filipinos there.
“Pero hopefully in the next few hours, bago pa man din makapasok ang vice consul, eh nakapasok na sila (Filipinos) sa Egypt,” Cortes said.
[Translation: But hopefully in the next few hours, even before the vice consul is allowed through, they (Filipinos) would have entered Egypt.]
