DFA to continue repatriation of Filipinos in Afghanistan despite flight cancellations

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said flight cancellations hampered its efforts to evacuate Filipinos in Afghanistan, which is currently under militant group Taliban's rule.

DFA said it continues to "exhaust all avenues" for the repatriation of remaining FIlipinos in Afghanistan despite two unsuccessful attempts.

"Last night, two attempts were made to evacuate Filipinos via New Delhi and Islamabad. However these were unsuccessful due to cancellation of all commercial flights," said DFA in a statement.

"As experienced by the groups last night, access to and even within the airport is very difficult and if able to check in, this is still no assurance that a flight would be able to leave," it added.

So far, DFA said 79 out of 90 Filipinos staying in Afghanistan have requested for repatriation from the government.

The foreign affairs department also advised Filipinos still in Afghanistan to prepare to leave at a moment's notice and to travel with minimal luggage.

Meanwhile, DFA also reported that seven Filipinos in Afghanistan on Wednesday were evacuated to Qatar and another five to the United Kingdom with the help of their employers.

"There are reports of other Filipinos who have left Kabul which our embassies are verifying," DFA also said.

Filipinos in distress may contact the Philippine Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan for assistance: Whatsapp/Viber: +923335244762.

DFA already raised Alert Level 4 or mandatory evacuation for Filipinos in Afghanistan due to the Taliban takeover of the country. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also left the country as he wanted to avoid bloodshed.

Hundreds of residents in Kabul desperately flocked to the airport there to flee the country.—AOL, GMA News