More than 1000 European citizens and approx 150 Greeks they are in Sudan, which is on the brink of a health and humanitarian crisis, according to Andreas Katsaniotis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, in charge of Greek Diaspora issues.

Mr. Katsaniotis, speaking to ERT, emphasized that “from the first moment the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs had recommended to Greeks to don’t travel therebut also to those who were already in Sudan, to limit their movements and this is what we are saying even now: the Greeks should stay in their homes because they are not a target, but are among warring parties,” he said.

He announced that the heads of the EU’s crisis management units had meeting yesterday on how the situation for European citizens in Sudan might progress.

“Right now efforts are being made to see all the possibilities, because even the airport is not working. So, a safe way must be found, if a safe passage is not found, we do not proceed with evacuations, it is even more dangerous,” he said.

“The country that has the responsibility of coordination – as there are no diplomatic authorities there either – Cairo is the one that serves Sudan, it sees all the possibilities and we are in close cooperation with them,” he explained.

The instructions given to all citizens who are in Sudan are to stay inside their homes, while he said that the way they can move as a ministry is “centrally”, “European”.

EU countries as a whole to be able – if deemed necessary – either to proceed with a disengagement from the Sudan or to supply the places where there are European citizens.

He stated that since the beginning of this extraordinary situation in Sudan, they had been in contact with the President of the Greek Community in Sudan, with the honorary Consul there and also with the Metropolitan of Sudan, recalling that those Greeks in the area should have given their information to the Embassy in Cairo.

It is noted that 15 Orthodox – among the Greeks and two children – are trapped in the metropolitan Church of the Annunciation. According to ERT, the supplies are enough for a few more days while the fighting escalates.

“We have told the Metropolitan to remain in the Church as the rest remain in their homes. The French are the ones who currently have the most trapped people and they are currently in charge of the operations on behalf of Greece,” said Mr. Katsaniotis.

For therheumatic noted that their condition remains stable

By order of Nikos Dendias, the Crisis Management Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was activated, which is in communication and coordination with the other EU member states, through the Consular Cooperation system.