Diplomats from African countries visit Leyte

TACLOBAN , Philippines  â€“ Ambassadors from African countries posted in Tokyo got a firsthand view of the devastation brought by Typhoon Yolanda in Leyte, which they described as “apocalyptic.”

On the invitation of Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez, Ambassadors Jacob Nkate of Botswana, Francois Oubida of Burkina Faso in West Africa, Youngor Telewoda of the Republic of Liberia, Samir Arrour of Morocco, Ahmed Araita Ali of Djibouti and Richard Ramoelesti of Lesotho arrived here on Sunday for a short visit.

They returned to Tokyo yesterday.

The ambassadors expressed their sympathies for the typhoon victims.

“We are from the African continent, very far geographically from the Philippines, but we feel very close to your people. I could not imagine what we have seen from the airport. What we saw is apocalyptic,” Ali told students and teachers at the newly constructed building of San Fernando Central School donated by ABS-CBN Foundation.

Prior to the visit here, the diplomats from African countries presented their credentials to President Aquino.

They also met with Leyte Gov. Dominic Petilla.

Ali said they would seek assistance from the hospitals’ association in Japan for possible donation of medical equipment for the damaged hospitals in Tacloban.

They also visited the site where the University of the Philippines-Palo will be constructed.

The ambassadors led the distribution of gifts for the typhoon survivors in Barangay Pawing.