DFA: 141 Filipinos still in Ukraine; 45 refuses to leave Kyiv

MANILA, March 2 ------ There are still 141 Filipinos in Ukraine amid Russia's continuing assault of the former Soviet republic, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Sarah Lou Arriola said 45 of them refused to leave the capital Kyiv. "As of now, meron kaming nakikitang 141 pa na nasa loob pa ng Ukraine. May 45 pa po sa Kyiv. 'Yun po 'yung talagang ayaw pang lumikas," she told TeleRadyo. Of the figure, 15 Filipinos are staying in Lviv, close to the Polish border, while 55 others have fled near the border of Hungary, Arriola said.

Meanwhile, 87 Filipino seafarers are docked in ports of Ukraine, she added. "Medyo kalat-kalat po sila ngayon pero marami na rin po 'yung nakatawid," she said.

Arriola said 40 Filipinos in Ukraine had already fled to European neighbors—27 in Moldova, 9 in Austria and 4 in Romania.

As some Filipinos refused to leave Ukraine, the Philippine government gave them $200 worth of financial assistance. "Dun po sa mga nasa Lviv po, meron na pong 17 na nabigyan. Kasi 'yun po 'yung mga 'yun, ayaw po talaga nilang lumikas. Humiwalay na po sila sa embassy. We just gave them financial assistance. We're giving more because marami ang hesitant kasi 'yung iba po married po talaga sa Ukraine," Arriola said.

To date, 19 Filipinos so far have returned to the Philippines. Thirteen of them, including 3 students, arrived in Manila on Tuesday night.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com