Marcos: Gov't preparing contingencies to ensure safety of 300 Pinoys in Sudan
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. assured the public that the government was doing everything to ensure the safety of 300 Filipinos trapped amid the clashes in Sudan.
*President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (Malacañang photo)*
In a video message, the President said the government was getting more information to prepare better, and quickly rescue Filipinos from the North African country. "We have about 300 people in Sudan. Unfortunately, none of the airports are functioning. They are still under fire," he said. "Also, we cannot ascertain a secure land route for them to leave. It is a long road from Khartoum to Cairo, which is where our embassy is, that is in charge also of Khartoum and Sudan," he added.
*President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (Malacañang photo)*
In a video message, the President said the government was getting more information to prepare better, and quickly rescue Filipinos from the North African country. "We have about 300 people in Sudan. Unfortunately, none of the airports are functioning. They are still under fire," he said. "Also, we cannot ascertain a secure land route for them to leave. It is a long road from Khartoum to Cairo, which is where our embassy is, that is in charge also of Khartoum and Sudan," he added.
The President said the government was working out evacuation plans and contingencies to immediately and safely evacuate these Filipinos from the strife-torn country. "We are just waiting to get better information as to whether or not it will be safe to bring our evacuees out of Khartoum, perhaps into Cairo," Marcos pointed out. The in-fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group began on April 15, 2023. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), [more than 400 people have been killed](https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/21/over-400-killed-3-500-hurt-in-sudan-fighting-who), and over 3,500 others hurt in the fighting in Sudan. The United Nations children's agency UNICEF added that at least nine children were among the dead, and more than 50 children had been wounded.President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday said government was preparing contingencies to assure the safety of around 300 Filipinos trapped in Sudan due to the ongoing clashes in the north African country.
— Presidential Communications Office (@pcogovph) April 22, 2023
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