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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Fear grips Filipinos in Afghanistan amid Taliban takeover

Fear grips Filipinos in Afghanistan amid Taliban takeover

Published Aug 16, 2021 11:19 am

Fear and anxiety gripped Filipinos in Afghanistan as Taliban forces entered the capital Kabul, with militants taking over the presidential palace on Sunday night.

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Joseph Glenn Gumpal, leader of the Filipino community in Afghanistan, said the Filipino community cannot help but feel nervous with the situation in the country.

"Talagang kami ay kinabahan din talaga. Panay ang tawag namin sa Philippine Embassy kailan ba talaga mangyayari ang repatriation kasi natatakot na kami (We are really nervous. We always call the Philippine Embassy to ask when the repatriation will really happen because we are scared," said Gumpal in an interview with dzBB on Monday.

He added the Filipino communities are in constant communication with each other for updates on repatriation.

The Taliban took over Afghanistan on Monday after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, leaving the government in collapse.

While there were no violence reported so far, Gumpal said they have heard of checkpoints manned by Taliban forces who are known for their brutal violence.

"Hindi namin alam kung ano ang plano nila, kung papasukin nila kami dito sa compound o ano (We don't know their plan, if they are going to enter our compounds or what," he told dzBB.

The Philippine government has ordered the mandatory evacuation of 130 Filipinos in Afghanistan late Sunday.

At least 32 Filipinos were already repatriated and are now waiting for their flights to the Philippines.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has raised Alert Level 4, the highest alert, following the security situation in the country.

Gumpal said there are at least 173 Filipinos in Afghanistan, 78 of whom have already agreed to join the government's repatriation efforts while some joined the evacuation efforts by their respective companies.

Meanwhile, the DFA advised Filipinos in Afghanistan to immediately contact the Philippine Embassy in Pakistan or OFWHelp through: Whatsapp/Viber: +923335244762

Related Tags

kabul taliban FILIPINOS IN AFGHANISTAN AFGHANISTAN
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