Italy welcomes 14 Palestinian children
The transfer on two Air Force aircraft is scheduled for today, May 13, as part of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism
Fourteen Palestinian minors requiring urgent healthcare due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza will be transferred to Italy on two Air Force C-130J aircraft, coordinated by the Civil Protection Department.
The MedEvac - Medical Evacuation mission operates under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), which is activated by the World Health Organization. It is coordinated by the Civil Protection Department through the CROSS – Remote Centre for Health Rescue Operations in Pistoia. This mission involves collaboration among various entities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Health, regional health authorities, the Ministry of Defense, the Joint Operations Headquarters – Covi, the Air Force, and the Prefectures responsible for receiving patients and their caregivers. The support from the Italian embassies in Cairo and Tel Aviv, along with the collective effort of the entire National Civil Protection Service, was crucial in enabling the medical evacuation to be carried out within a few days.
Alongside the young patients, health personnel, and volunteers, 33 caregivers and Department officials are on board.
Air Force aircraft will take off this morning and return to Italy from Eilat-Ramon, Israel, tomorrow night. The patients will be welcomed by hospitals in Veneto, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, and Sicily.
The operation enhances Italy's humanitarian efforts in support of Gaza's civilian population, having successfully evacuated over 550 Palestinian citizens, including family members of Italian citizens and minors in need of medical assistance.