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First batch of Filipino evacuees from Sudan arrives in Manila
By SHERYLIN UNTALAN,GMA Integrated NewsSeventeen Filipinos who fled conflict-torn Sudan arrived in Manila on Saturday.
In a press release, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that the first batch of evacuees returned to the country on Saturday afternoon after flying out on Friday from Athens, Greece and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Eight of them were hotel workers in Sudan who boarded a military evacuation flight after successful representations were made with the Greek government by the Philippine Embassy in Athens.
"The Embassy received the group in Athens on the morning of April 28, 2023, Friday, and afterwards immediately arranged for their flight back to the Philippines through the DFA’s Assistance-to-Nationals Fund," the DFA said.
The remaining nine overseas Filipinos, including an infant, fled Khartoum via Port Sudan, where they boarded a C130 plane of the Saudi Royal Air Force bound for Jeddah.
"The OWWA provided the repatriation tickets for eight of the evacuees, who are overseas Filipino workers, while the Consulate arranged for the flight of the other evacuee, who is a student in Sudan," it added.
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“Our DFA offices and diplomatic missions concerned are determined to bring our people home safely as soon as possible,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said.
The welcoming activity was attended by Manalo, together with officials of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
“The Philippine government is working round-the-clock to assist our kababayans who have left Sudan,” Manalo said.
He also thanked the countries that have helped the Philippines in its evacuation and repatriation efforts.
As of Saturday, a total of 610 Filipinos had evacuated from Khartoum, with 391 having crossed to the Egyptian side of the border in buses chartered by the Philippine Embassy in Cairo and the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Sudan, the DFA said.
“The Embassy is currently arranging for their temporary visas and repatriation flights to the Philippines, while DMW and OWWA are preparing for shelter and other welfare assistance during transit," it added. — VBL, GMA Integrated News