As it became known from the GRETHA, two C-130 and C-27j transport aircraft took off bound for Egypt, in the context of the operation to free the Greek citizens from Sudan.

The planes are heading to Egypt as operations to evacuate foreign nationals are underway in Sudan.

Italy today began an operation to remove its nationals, including the Swiss and members of the Vatican embassy in Sudan, where deadly fighting is raging between the army and paramilitaries.

“We have been in contact with one by one of the 140 Italians present in Sudan, we are doing everything possible to guarantee their safety,” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told public broadcaster Rai3.

“Within a few hours, until tonight we hope, all those who wish will be safe,” he said as the evacuation operation was being carried out with the assistance of the Italian Ministry of Defense.

“In total our soldiers will take under their protection about 200 people, including Swiss nationals and members of the apostolic delegation” of the Vatican embassy in Sudan, said the minister, who declined to reveal how many Italian soldiers are in Sudan.

Earlier, Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized that two air force aircraft will go to Egypt to evacuate the Greeks trapped, while Nikos Dendias pointed out that the crisis management unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been activated.

“It was decided by the prime minister to relocate air force aircraft together with special forces personnel in Egypt on standby, so that they can participate in an operation to free the Greek citizens,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, in his briefing on the situation in Sudan.

His statements in detail:

“From the first moment hostilities in Sudan began, the government set as its primary goal the safety and protection of Greek citizens in that country.

On Saturday, April 15, with the start of the armed conflicts, an announcement was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advising Greeks to avoid traveling to Sudan. We also called on the Greek citizens who are in this country to be informed about the developments, to avoid travel and to observe the security measures.

On April 16, with a new announcement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs repeated the above instructions and informed about the actions it has taken to help the citizens there. Our embassy in Cairo maintains constant contact with the rural metropolitan of India, Mr. Savvas, the president of the Greek community and the honorary consul of Greece. As well as the head of the European Union in Sudan.

At the same time, the crisis management unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been activated by my order, which is in constant communication with the rest of the EU member states through the consular cooperation system and also meets twice a day, in the morning and in the afternoon, in the presence of officials of the ministry Defense.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in general remains in coordination with the rest of the EU member states for the possible release operation of the European citizens. I will raise the matter tomorrow morning with the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg as a matter of absolute priority.

I have also made a series of communications with high-ranking foreign officials to assist in the release of Greek citizens.
I am referring to my communications with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, on April 18 and 24. In my three communications with the High Representative of the EU, with the Deputy Minister of France in Paris, Mr. Zacharopoulou, and with the US Ambassador in Athens, Mr. Tsounis.

A little while ago, it was decided by the prime minister to relocate air force aircraft together with special forces personnel to Egypt on standby, so that they can participate in an operation to free the Greek citizens.

I repeat, our main concern is the safety and release of the Greek citizens who are in Sudan.

The government remains in constant collaboration with its partners and allies to this end.

I would also like to say as a final remark that the list of Greek citizens to be released also includes the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus”.