The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday confirmed the arrival of three more Filipinos evacuated from Kabul and transited via Doha, Qatar.
An estimated 185 Filipinos have already left the Afghan capital mostly through foreign military planes or company-initiated evacuation since the Taliban took over control of Kabul on Aug. 15.
Based on the figures provided by the DFA, there are still 24 Filipinos left in Afghanistan, 16 of them are requesting repatriation from their company or through the Philippine government while the remaining eight have opted to stay even as the Taliban has set the deadline for all evacuation on Aug. 31, 2021.
Amid this development, the DFA said it will continue to work with government and international partners to ensure the evacuation of the remaining Filipinos in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, four OFWs are reportedly trapped and unable to leave a United Nations-occupied compound in Mazar, located about 430 kilometers north of Kabul.
According to migration consultant Emmanuel Geslani, the four Filipinos are employees of Hart, a British security firm mostly engaged in dog handling.
Citing his sources from among the Filipinos in Afghanistan, Geslani said the four sought the assistance of the Philippine Embassy in Pakistan for an evacuation plan after Taliban forces have reportedly completely surrounded their area.
Geslani said he spoke to Glenn Gumpal, president of the Samahang ng mga Pilipino sa Afghanistan (SPA), who provided him with information as to the situation of the four OFWs in Mazar.