By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

FIGHTING CONTINUES. Filipino repatriates, whose evacuation from war-torn Sudan was facilitated by the Department of Foreign Affairs, (DFA) arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on May 4, 2023. The DFA continues to call on Filipinos to leave Sudan as fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces continues. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)

MANILA — More than 150 Filipinos remain in the violence-stricken Sudan, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Thursday as it renewed calls to evacuate the Northeast African state immediately.

In a Laging Handa briefing, DFA Assistant Secretary Paul Raymund Cortes said 29 of this number are already waiting for repatriation in Port Sudan, where they will travel by plane to Jeddah or Doha.

Cortes admitted that getting flights to ferry the repatriates from Port Sudan to neighboring cities had been difficult, especially with the Hajj season in Saudi Arabia.

“Halos lahat po ng mga kababayan natin na gustong umalis at dumaan ng Saudi ay nahihirapan dahil wala flights available dahil nga po sobrang dami ng tao sa Jeddah ngayon at saka sa Mecca (Almost of our nationals who want to leave and transit through Saudi Arabia are facing difficulties due to unavailable flights because there is an influx of visitors in Jeddah and Mecca at present),” he said.

Despite this, the agency reiterated its readiness to all Filipinos who wish to leave Sudan.

Filipinos who choose to evacuate either through Port Sudan or Egypt, meanwhile, are advised to inform the Philippine Embassy in Cairo beforehand and make sure to have sufficient cash to cover the costs of their food, water and accommodation.

The waiting time in both Wadi Halfa and Port Sudan takes an average of 10 days or more, according to a separate DFA advisory.

Those who will opt to stay are urged to register their personal information and location in Sudan to the Embassy.

The DFA also reminded them to alway keep their valid passport with them. The Philippine Embassy in Cairo may be reached through the following:

WhatsApp/Mobile: (+20) 122 743 6472
Facebook/Messenger: PHinEgypt
Email: cairo.pe@dfa.gov.ph 

The outbreak of violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces on April 15, 2023 has forced thousands of foreign nationals and locals to flee the country, pushing the country to the brink of what the United Nations described as a “full-scale” civil war.

The UN earlier said that the conflict could destabilize the region as it already displaced more than three million people in less than three months.

Last July 8, an airstrike in Omdurman, Sudan killed at least 22 people.

Renewed fighting in North Kordofan, South Kordofan and Blue Nile States were also reported. (PNA)