Filipino wounded by stray bullet in Sudan

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino was wounded by a stray bullet in war-torn Sudan, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said the unidentified Filipino was “wounded in the hand by a stray bullet but he has received treatment.”

“No report on Filipinos killed due to the conflict,” Daza said, adding at least 270 Filipinos are still awaiting repatriation.

The DFA said 300 more Filipinos were being evacuated from the country before the end of the US-brokered 72-hour nationwide ceasefire that started at midnight on April 24.

Western and Asian nations raced to extract their citizens from Sudan.

She said that securing buses to transport Filipinos out of Sudan’s capital Khartoum has been challenging due to the scarcity of bus providers and increasing rental prices. But seven buses have been contracted to transport the other Filipino evacuees as efforts to secure more buses continue.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for migrant workers Eduardo de Vega said seven buses were carrying at least 300 Filipinos from Sudan to Egypt as of yesterday morning.

The first batch of 50 Filipinos was evacuated on Tuesday.

“As of Wednesday morning Sudan time, at least seven more buses are leaving for Egypt with 300 repatriates minimum,” de Vega said.

The Philippine embassy in Cairo has made representations with Egyptian Foreign Ministry to address the long processing at the Egyptian border and facilitate the temporary entry of Filipino nationals into Egypt.

“The problem is the long processing at Egyptian border, taking over a day,” de Vega said. “Our embassy is sending teams to try to fix it.”

According to Daza, the embassy is exploring the deployment of Assistance to Nationals teams in two locations in Wadi Halfa and Port Sudan to provide consular assistance to evacuating Filipinos.

On April 24, the embassy deployed staff to Aswan to receive Filipino evacuees.

De Vega also reported that Philippine Ambassador to Cairo Ezzedin Tago and Vice Consul Bojer Capati figured in a vehicular accident “in their rush to get to the border by car to help incoming Filipinos cross through.”

“Fortunately, he was unharmed. He has returned to Cairo and will be flying to the border to facilitate the entry of Filipino evacuees to Egypt,” Daza added.

The official said the embassy continues to monitor developments in Sudan to coordinate the evacuation and repatriation of Filipinos and ensure their safety and well-being.

The embassy has also issued a number of advisories on the situation as well as on the evacuation/repatriation efforts.

As of April 25, there are 740 Filipinos registered in Sudan, with 350 requesting repatriation.

A majority of the Filipinos are professionals, while some work in farms and agricultural companies. There are also students and household service workers.

The DFA said 80 Filipinos including the first batch of 50 have already left Sudan.

Assistance

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) should ensure the provision of livelihood assistance to Filipino workers in Sudan who have been displaced by the recent infighting in the mixed African-Arab country, a senator said yesterday.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, chairman of the Senate committee on labor and employment, also urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and other concerned agencies to prepare alternative sources of livelihood for those who will be repatriated, including undocumented workers.

“We expect that most of the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) who were forced to go home because of the worsening situation in Sudan have no savings. It might take some time before they can relocate and find jobs in other countries,” Estrada said in Filipino.

“For the meantime, it would be good if they are provided assistance by the government and we have allocated funds for distressed or displaced OFWs,” he said.

The senator noted that P431 million had been allocated under OWWA’s Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay Program (BPBH) in this year’s national budget.

BPBH, a package of livelihood support and assistance, covers returning OWWA member-OFWs who were displaced or distressed. A maximum of P20,000 is given to covered active and non-active OWWA members as startup or additional capital for the expansion of their already existing business.  –  Paolo Romero