WASHINGTON, D.C.
—Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople has stressed the need to establish a humanitarian corridor in Sudan to safely and promptly evacuate affected Filipinos.
She welcomed the news that the United Nations "will be stepping in soon" amid calls for the UN to establish a humanitarian corridor or safe zones as soon as possible.
"Ang panawagan natin, based doon sa nakita ko (Our call, based on what we saw, based sa mga conversations ko (on my conversations) with the evacuees from the civil war ‘no, mga kababayan natin (our fellowmen). There really needs to be  humanitarian corridors and safe zones," Ople stressed.
"[P]ara yung mga gustong makaalis puwedeng umalis and then yung mga gusto naman maiwan may access pa rin sa pagkain, sa gamot, sa tubig and other basic essentials (So that those who want to leave and those who want to stay will still have access to food, water and other basic essentials)," Ople added.
While the setting up of safe zones is still being planned, the Migrant Workers chief told Filipinos who have not decided to either stay or leave, that this is the best time to leave.
"So we do hope that the UN will step in and establish these humanitarian corridors and safe zones as soon as possible," Ople said.
According to Ople, almost half of the OFWs in Sudan have been repatriated, with 160 nationals flying back to Manila on Wednesday and Thursday.