Close to 600 Filipinos have been repatriated from war-torn Sudan, and no more nationals are trapped in Cairo, a foreign affairs official said.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said a total of 599 Filipinos from Sudan have been sent back to the Philippines while 71 more Filipinos are in Port of Sudan, and are expected to arrive in Manila soon.
"Wala na pong naiipit sa Cairo, kaya ang exit point ngayon ay iyong Port Sudan. At ngayon mayroon nang commercial flight, commercial vessels, dumadaan ng Jedah. Marami na diyan ang pauwi (No more Filipinos are stuck in Cairo, the exit point now is in Port Sudan. There are already commercial flights and vessels in Jeddah. Many of them are on their way home)," De Vega said in a television interview on Monday, May 15.
According to the official, repatriation of workers is under way as they await for other Filipinos who want to go home.
"[A]ng nakaalis, nakauwi na sa Pilipinas ay 599. Hindi lahat umalis ng Sudan tapos pumunta ng Pilipinas, may iba pumunta ng ibang lugar, pero 599 na po nakauwi tapos there will be additional in the next few days ‘no, so good naman iyan (A total of 599 were able to return to the Philippines. Not all left Sudan for the Philippines, some went to other places but 599 were able to go home and there will be additional in the next few days, so that's good)," De Vega said.
Some 38 Filipinos, including a cancer patient, arrived in the country on Sunday.
De Vega reiterated that displaced Filipino workers due to the conflict in Sudan will be assisted by the government.