DFA: More than 200 more overseas Filipinos from Sudan reach Egyptian border
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 11:27 a.m.) — More than 200 more overseas Filipinos have reached a border town in Egypt from Sudan and are waiting for official entry and eventual repatriation to the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
The 227, who are at the Egyptian border town of Argeen, traveled on chartered buses and were met at the border by Philippine Ezzedin Tago.
In a government "Laging Handa" briefing, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said "there are 350 Filipinos" who have reached the border. "The problem now is the processing of their papers," he said in Filipino.
He said that process may take two to three days.
Ambassador Tago and Vice Consul Bojer Capati were headed to the border earlier this week when the vehicle they were in figured in an accident. Tago continued on to the border while Capati waited for medical clearance.
The 227 overseas Filipinos join another 50 who earlier crossed into Egypt, where Philippine consular officials said they were working to help ease entry for Filipinos.
"There are now a total of 340 Filipinos from Sudan on Egyptian soil," DFA said.
The DFA said around 350 Filipinos have signified interest in voluntary repatriation to flee fighting in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. It added that "the actual number of Filipinos joining may vary from the expected number."
Other overseas Filipinos had managed to leave Sudan through evacuation missions by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and of France. Others left the country with assistance from their employers.
The Department of Migrant Workers has said it will help with relief to evacuees as well as with finding work for migrant workers displaced by what international news reports have described as a potential civil war.
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