EΠΙΤΙΜΟΣ ΠΡΟΞΕΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΑΣ ΣΤΟ ΣΟΥΔΑΝ
- 26 Apr 2023
- Politics
The honorary consul of Greece in Sudan - Gerasimos Pagoulatos spoke about the situation in Sudan and the Greeks who are there in the "Newsroom" show on ERT.
“Today is the fifth day and while there was a plan for a truce and cease-fire from yesterday evening at 6, which would have lasted until 6 pm today, it has unfortunately been sidestepped and fighting is going on between the two warring armies in his camp at the Pentagon Khartoum, at the airport of Khartoum, around the palace in Durman which is the Radio and Television palace, which from what I saw from other channels was completely destroyed" he says and continues:
"Nobody dares to even open a window, because it might be thought that it is someone from the opposing team and they will start shooting."
Concern for the Greeks
Mr. Pagoulatos then mentions that there is still no electricity or water. "They must remain firmly in their homes. No one can give them help. Unfortunately with what they have, whether they have it or not, they will pass with it. There is no man to risk going out to a store, to bring them at this moment any food which may be necessary. Unfortunately it's a normal war situation and because it's a civil war it's worse."
New 24-hour truce
Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces yesterday agreed to a 24-hour ceasefire starting at 18:00 local time (19:00 Greek time) in the fifth day of heavy clashes with the country's regular army.
"We reaffirm our full commitment to a full ceasefire and hope that the other side will respect it according to the announced time," the Rapid Support Force said in a statement.
There is no word on whether the Sudanese military will announce that it will abide by the ceasefire.
The two sides announced a 24-hour truce yesterday that was not kept.
In contact with the International Red Cross for Greeks in Sudan
Following relevant instructions from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Crisis Management Unit, is in constant communication with the International Red Cross, in order to immediately provide the best possible medical assistance to the two Greek wounded who are in Khartoum, taking into account the war situation prevailing in Sudan, which does not allow an operation to free them, according to diplomatic sources.
"The International Red Cross is aware of the presence and needs of the rest of the Greeks in Khartoum, apart from the two injured," the same sources state and add: "At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains in coordination with the other EU member states on issues medical aid and for a possible extrication operation, when the conditions allow it".
