GOVPH

PH Embassy in Cairo Provides Food Care Packs to 235 Filipinos In Ethiopia

Filipino beneficiaries in Kombulcha. (Photo courtesy of FCE)

CAIRO 27 October 2020 – The Philippine Embassy in Cairo, in cooperation with the Filipino Community in Ethiopia (FCE), a Filipino community organization, distributed food care packs to 235 Filipinos in Ethiopia from 15 to 26 October 2020. This is in addition to the 30 who received food aid in September 2020.

The Embassy has again partnered with the FCE, through its President, Ms. Elijah Destacamento, and FCE Secretary Ms. Arianne Loren Argete, in the identification of Filipino beneficiaries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most importantly, the FCE was able to reach out to the more distressed Filipinos, including those living and working outside Addis Ababa, in the far regions of Ethiopia. The beneficiaries included Filipinos with reduced salaries and work benefits, senior citizens, and those who lost their jobs due to the COVID pandemic.

Upon receiving her food pack, Ms. Marilyn Gloria, a Filipino missionary lecturer in Ethiopia Adventist College in Arsi Negele, Oromia region said, “This pandemic has adversely affected us mentally and economically. Our monthly salaries and allowances were greatly reduced. Our family and friends in Kuyera and Arsi Negele are very happy and grateful to the authorities who extended assistance to the Filipino community in Ethiopia. Knowing that our government has not forgotten us has boosted our morale. Maraming salamat sa mga biyaya na natanggap namin galing sa inyo. Masaya kaming lahat sa kagandahang loob na ibinigay ninyo sa amin. Mabuhay FCE! Mabuhay Philippine Embassy in Egypt! Mabuhay tayong lahat! Mabuhay Pilipinas!”

Ms. Eunelfa Regie Famador, a university lecturer in Wollo University, Kombolcha, Amhara Region in north-central Ethiopia said, “With this pandemic, it is quite difficult to mobilize to buy food and other necessities. Mentally, it is a struggle especially since I am far away from my family, and I have a lot of uncertainties in my mind because of the pandemic. With the ayuda, I am thankful and I can feel the care of the Philippine government.”

Ms. Elijah Destacamento, FCE President, said “serving the community during this pandemic is a big challenge, but the opportunity to serve my kababayan in Ethiopia is a great fulfillment. It was not an easy task, but we have successfully completed two waves of food packs distribution. The 235 beneficiaries are very grateful. Marami ang nabawasan ng sahod at nawalan ng allowance na galing sa kompanya. The ayuda assistance will go a long way to sustain the needs of our kababayans. We could have never done this without the unwavering effort and support of the FCE officers and advisers. Surely, nothing is impossible with collective efforts and the desire to serve. God bless at mabuhay ang lahat ng Pinoy sa Ethiopia!”

The food care packs or ayuda, is part of the Philippine government’s relief support to affected overseas Filipinos to help them tide over the COVID-19 crisis.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the Philippine Embassy in Cairo has already distributed more than one thousand food bags to members of the Filipino community in Egypt, Ethiopia and Djibouti. The Embassy is now preparing to extend the same assistance to affected Filipinos living and working in Eritrea and the Sudan. END

Cairo Food Packs 2