Greece joins EU efforts to evacuate civilians from Sudan, incl. 150 Greeks

The Greek government is actively engaged in the evacuation of Greek citizens from Sudan, but the current circumstances in the country, engulfed in civil war, give little reason to believe that this will be successful.

However, a joint European Union effort is aimed at evacuating some 1,000 European citizens as soon as conditions permit. “Unless a safe exit is found, we will not proceed with the evacuation,” Deputy Foreign Minister for the Greek Diaspora Andreas Katsaniotis told state broadcaster ERT on Tuesday.

There are about 150 Greeks in Sudan, of whom approximately 70-75 live permanently in Khartoum, and the rest are foreign Greek workers sent, for example, to work in schools. There is no Greek diplomatic mission in the country, the interests of the Greeks in Sudan are served by the Greek Embassy in Cairo, Egypt.

Fifteen Orthodox Christians, including four Greeks, have remained locked in the Metropolitan Church of the Annunciation in Khartoum since Holy Saturday morning, the day fighting broke out between the armed forces and Sudan’s largest militias, the Rapid Support Force (RSF). Saturday morning two Greeks were wounded by a mortar shell as they were leaving the church, their condition was reported to be stable that day, as they were awaiting surgery. Unfortunately, after they were taken by the ambulance, their fate is unknown.

Local and foreign citizens were urged to stay at home. At least 185 people have been killed since April 15, when heavy fighting broke out, according to the UN. Among them are both civilians and militants. About 1800 people were injured.

As fighting continues in several parts of the country, foreign leaders and institutions, including the UN High Commission on Human Rights, have repeatedly called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. However, Sudan’s de facto ruler, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, reportedly rejected all calls and told leaders to stay out of the country.

Thousands of civilians have been locked in their apartments and houses due to continued shelling, often without electricity or access to food, water or medicine, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said in Geneva. International law requires the protection of schools and hospitals.

Since Khartoum International Airport is closed, attempts to evacuate citizens EU currently not possible. However, the French, who have the most people trapped in Sudan, are currently in charge of operations on behalf of the EU and are coordinating future evacuations by gathering data from other EU citizens.

German army troops are also preparing to evacuate about 300 German citizens from Sudan. However, so far no evacuation has been carried out, but preparations are underway in case this becomes possible.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias has activated the crisis management department of the ministry, maintaining communication and coordination with the rest of the EU member states through the system of consular cooperation. Dendias asked the Greek Ambassador to Egypt to maintain constant contact with the Greeks in Sudan, as well as with the EU Delegation in Khartoum, in order to ensure the best coordination for security purposes and to provide the best possible assistance.

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