The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), yesterday urged Filipinos not to travel to Sudan, after the third highest crisis alert level was raised due to violence and unrest in the African country as protesters call for civilian rule following the ouster of its former president Omar al-Bashir.
Last June 7, the DFA raised Alert Level 2 or “Restriction Phase,” to mean the northeastern African country is restricted area due to the ongoing civil unrest in the capital Khartoum.
“Alert Level 2, or Restriction Phase, is issued if there are real threats to the lives, security, and properties of Filipinos due to instability in a particular country,” the DFA said in a statement.
Filipinos who remain in the country where Alert Level 2 is in effect are advised to restrict non-essential movements, avoid public places, and prepare for evacuation.
There is an estimated 3,000 Filipinos in Sudan, which share a border with Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west and Libya to the northwest.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), meanwhile, will only allow the return of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in that country if they have existing employment contracts and in consideration of other special circumstances, the DFA said.
Filipinos in Sudan in need of assistance may contact the Philippine Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, through telephone numbers (+202) 252-13062 or through its Facebook page. They may also contact the Philippine Honorary Consul in Khartoum at (+249) 183-468717 or (+249) 183-468716.
Meanwhile, the DFA, through the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, has asked members of the Filipino community in Saudi Arabia “to exercise caution and remain vigilant in light of a missile attack that hit the Abha International Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia on June 12.”
In an advisory posted at the Embassy’s Facebook page, the members of the Filipino community are advised to keep a vigilant watch on potential threats to their security and to continue to abide by the security measures and protocols established by the Saudi government, as well as the country’s laws, rules and regulations.
Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Adnan Alonto was quoted as saying no Filipino was injured during the attack, and the Embassy and the Consulate General continue to monitor the situation.
The embassy added that further security-related incidents, information on developing security situations on the ground and requests for assistance may be brought to the attention of the Embassy’s Assistance to Nationals (ATN) section at +96611-480-1918 (landline), +96656 989 3301 (hotline) orassistance@riyadhpe.com (email), or the Consulate General’s ATN section at +96655 219 613 or +966055 219 614 (hotline) or ans@pcgjeddah.org.
A missile struck the arrivals hall of the airport, causing injuries to 26 people. Eighteen people were treated at Abha International Airport for minor injuries and another eight were taken to hospital.
Image credits: AP