Tragedy in Libya: Four Greek aid workers dead after car accident
Reporting from international media such as Reuters and the Jerusalem Post – An announcement from the Ministry of National Defense is expected
According to Protothema.gr…
The traffic accident involving members of the Greek humanitarian aid in Libya earlier today turned into a tragedy.
In spite of the initial information from the GEETHA [Hellenic National Defense General Staff (ΓΕΕΘΑ, Γενικό Επιτελείο Εθνικής Άμυνας)] that after the traffic accident there were some minor injuries, finally major international news agencies broadcast statements by Othman Abduljaleel, the Libyan Minister of Health who spoke of 4 dead Greeks.
From the Greek side, until 10:30 p.m., the news in question has not been confirmed or denied, neither by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Defense, nor by the Greek Ministry of Defense, which earlier issued a statement in which there was talk of a traffic accident in which there were some with minor wounds.
See excepts from international media reports:
According to the information, the mission consisted of 19 people who arrived on Sunday morning carrying three tons of food and pharmaceutical material. The mission consisted of officers from the Greek Army, Air Force and Navy.
The mission had arrived at dawn by C-130 in Libya. The aircraft arrived at the 112th Fighter Wing in Eleusis at 17:00 and at 21:00 a new aircraft took off and is expected to arrive at approximately 23:00 to land in Benghazi.
The timeline of the case
It all started when on Sunday afternoon the GEETHA issued a statement in which there was talk of a traffic accident in which a bus of the Greek mission collided head-on with a truck that was in the opposite direction.
In the announcement, however, there was talk of slightly injured people who had already been transferred to hospitals in the area and the repatriation of the entire mission was already underway. The Greek mission was in the African country to provide aid after the disaster that hit Libya after the storm Daniel.
The announcement of the Ministry of Defense
“From the General Staff of National Defense it is announced that at noon on Sunday, September 17, 2023, the bus carrying the medical personnel of the Armed Forces who had gone to Libya as part of our country’s assistance, collided with a vehicle moving in the opposite direction.
Specifically, according to information from the competent diplomatic authorities of Greece, from the conflict that occurred under unclear circumstances so far, executives have suffered minor injuries. All the injured have been taken to nearby hospitals in the area.
The causes and circumstances of the incident are being investigated in cooperation with the Libyan authorities, while an operation is underway to gather the personnel in Benghazi and repatriate them. A C-130 aircraft at 112 AM in Elefsina with medical personnel is ready to take off”.
According to a statement by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Ministry of Defense, the UN and the European Union, the Consulate General of Greece in Benghazi is on standby for the repatriation of the Greek mission.
The announcement of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
“The Greek mission that went to provide humanitarian aid in Libya, had a car accident today during its road transit in the city of Derna”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says in its announcement about the car accident that happened today (17.9.2023) in the country .
“In coordination with the Ministry of National Defense, the UN and the European Union, the Consulate General of Greece in Benghazi is on standby to provide assistance to the mission and assist in its repatriation.”