Italy welcomes 16 injured Palestinian children
The mission falls under the European Civil Protection Mechanism
The first of two flights has just departed from Cairo, and the second will leave shortly, carrying 16 Palestinian children. The two aircraft, a C-130J from the Italian Air Force and an ATR-72 from the Italian Guardia di Finanza, are carrying patients in need of urgent medical assistance due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The MedEvac - Medical Evacuation mission is conducted under the European Civil Protection Mechanism, activated by the World Health Organization. It is coordinated by the Civil Protection Department through the Remote Centre for Health Rescue Operations (CROSS) in Turin and Pistoia. The coordination involves cooperation with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defense, Joint Operations Headquarters, Air Force, Guardia di Finanza, and the Prefectures responsible for receiving patients and their accompanying persons. The support of the Italian Embassy in Cairo and the Egyptian Ministry of Health, along with the joint effort of the entire National Civil Protection Service, was crucial in enabling the medical evacuation to be carried out within a few days.
The young patients were referred by both the European Civil Protection Mechanism and by Egyptian health authorities. Before their departure, they received assistance and initial screening at the Italian Hospital "Umberto I" in Cairo, which played a crucial role in their care. In addition to the young patients, medical staff, and volunteers, there are also 36 accompanying persons on the flights.
Once the 16 patients arrive in Italy, through the involvement of regional health representatives, they will be transferred to the following national hospitals: Regina Margherita in Turin; Niguarda in Milan; Papa Giovanni in Bergamo; Sant'Orsola in Bologna; Maggiore in Bologna; Salesi in Ancona; Meyer in Florence; Burlo Garofalo in Trieste; Santa Maria in Terni; and Santa Maria della Misericordia in Perugia.
The operation adds to the humanitarian efforts in support of Gaza's civilian population, building on Italy's previous evacuations of over 300 Palestinian citizens since last fall, which included relatives of Italian citizens and minors in need of medical assistance.