The C-27 landed at 10:30 in the morning in Elefsina, bringing to Greece from Djibouti 17 people who were freed from Sudan with the help of France and Italy.

The flight left yesterday at 23:30 local time carrying 17 people, including 3 children and a wounded man who underwent leg surgery at the local French military hospital, to Aswan, Egypt, from where they then continued to Athens.

The Greek delegation led by the Deputy Minister of National Defense Nikolaos Hardalia landed with a C-27J Spartan transport aircraft of the Air Force at the airport of Djibouti, yesterday Monday, April 24, 2023 and (local) time 21:00, where they were welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Djibouti Mr. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, the Head of the European Union Delegation in Djibouti Mrs. Sylvie Tabesse and the Ambassador of Greece in Ethiopia Mrs. Anna Farou.

On behalf of the Greek Government, Mr. Hardalias thanked the Government of Djibouti for the undivided care and provision of facilities in every field to the Greeks who arrived from Sudan.

A second operation is also underway

Also, by order of the government, a second repatriation mission is underway by chartered civilian flight (Lifeline) of an intubated Greek wounded man, who was operated on yesterday in a French military hospital.

His condition is considered serious but stable, and he must be operated on again within 48 hours.

His son (16-17 years old) will also board the plane.

The Deputy Minister of National Defence, in constant contact with the Operation Center of the Greek Army, remains in Aswan to coordinate and monitor the repatriation operation of the remaining Greeks.

Release of seven others

According to a morning announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, seven more Greeks and members of their families were released from Sudan and arrived in the early hours of the morning (25.04.2023), on a Dutch aircraft flight, in Aqaba, Jordan.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, expressed his warm thanks to his Dutch counterpart, Wopke Hoekstra, for his country’s assistance in the efforts to free Greeks and their family members from Sudan.

The process and actions for the release of our compatriots and their family members from Sudan always continue in close coordination with our EU partners and allies.