Katsaniotis: About 150 Greeks are in Sudan - Evacuations only if a safe way out is found

More than 1,000 European citizens and approximately 150 Greeks are in Sudan, where fighting is raging between the Armed Forces and Sudan's largest paramilitary force, according to the Deputy Foreign Minister for Diaspora Greeks Andreas Katsaniotis.

"If a safe way out is not found, we will not proceed with evacuations," Katsaniotis told public broadcaster ERT and added: "At the moment, efforts are being made to look at all possibilities, because even the airport is not working. So, a safe way must be found....[otherwise] it is even more dangerous."

It is noted that 15 Orthodox Christians - including some Greeks - are trapped in the Metropolitan Church of the Annunciation.

"We have told the metropolitan to remain in the church as the others remain in their homes," said Katsaniotis. Regarding the Greeks that have been injured, he stated that their condition remains stable.

"From the first moment, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from April 15, had recommended to Greeks not to travel to Sudan, but also to the Greeks there to restrict their movements and this is what we are saying now: They should stay home. The Greeks there are not a target, but they are in the midst of combatants."

"The French are those who have the most people trapped and they are currently in charge of operations on behalf of the EU," he said.

According to Katsaniotis, by order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias, the Crisis Management Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been activated and is in communication and coordinating with the rest of the EU member-states through the consular cooperation system.