Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 15) — More Filipinos evacuated from war-torn Sudan arrived in the Philippines on Sunday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
“Ang good news, kahapon, may 38 na nakaalis kasama ang isang may cancer na inaalagaan sa Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) bago pinauwi,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said during a Laging Handa briefing.
[Translation: The good news is, yesterday, 38 Filipinos were able to leave, including one cancer patient who received medical care in Jeddah before being sent home.]
“Meron pang mga 71 nasa port of Sudan, hinahantay ang plane ticket [papuntang Jeddah]. Itong linggo makakauwi na sila,” he added.
[Translation: 71 more are at the port of Sudan, waiting for their plane tickets to Jeddah. They would be able to come home this week.]
According to De Vega, almost 600 FIlipinos have already returned to the Philippines while around 40 to 50 Filipinos remain in Sudan, with most of them firm on staying in the war-torn country.
“Wala nang naiipit sa Cairo kaya ngayon ang exit point ay port of Sudan. At ngayon, meron nang commercial flights, commercial vessel dumadaan ng Jeddah pauwi,” he said.
[Translation: No one is stuck in Cairo anymore so the exit point now is the port of Sudan. And commercial flights, commercial vessels are now available going to Jeddah en route to the Philippines.]
The undersecretary told the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs on Monday that the Philippine Consulate in Khartoum remains in touch with Filipinos in Sudan.
De Vega said there will be no repatriation buses anymore but the country will still provide free transportation going to Port Sudan. He also assured them of assistance should they decide to return to the Philippines.
CNN Philippines’ Correspondent Xianne Arcangel contributed to this report.
