This Sunday, Italy evacuated Gazans requiring medical care. The humanitarian operation was carried out by an air force crew as well as healthcare workers. This is the third air operation of this type carried out by Italy.
The Air Force C-130J took off from Cairo, Egypt, at 3:05 p.m. local time (2:05 p.m. in Italy) on Sunday. On board are 45 people from Gaza, including 14 children, 8 adults and 23 caregivers, who will be treated in some of the best pediatric hospitals in Italy. The youngest is called Aisel, she is a little girl aged only 4 months.
The plane is expected to arrive around 6 p.m. at Rome Ciampino airport, from where the medical and humanitarian evacuation flight will continue to Pisa airport. This is Italy’s third air operation in favor of Palestinian children.
The initiative began at the end of January, followed by a second flight and a sea voyage with the Italian Navy ship Vulcano. Young patients will be admitted to hospitals identified by the Ministry of Health.
The operation was carried out by an air force crew and military medical and paramedical personnel. Two doctors from Gaslini Hospital, a cultural mediator from the Ministry of Health and staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also took part in the activity.
“Italy is doing and will continue to do everything in its power to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population. Once again, Defense has demonstrated professionalism, competence and great humanity, professionalism, competence and great humanity. This is why I would like to thank the military personnel who, together with those of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, operated in the forward coordination post in Egypt“, declared the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, commenting on the operation.
A Spanish humanitarian ship
A humanitarian ship remained anchored at a Cyprus port on Sunday ahead of its pilot voyage as the first vessel to test the Gaza sea corridor.
Efforts to deliver aid to Gaza by sea have progressed, but Spanish aid group Open Arms Ship is still anchored in Larnaca. The ship is carrying 200 tons of food aid. The sea corridor is supported by the The European Union, the United States, the United Arab Emirates and other countries. The European Commission said United Nations agencies and the Red Cross would play a role. The Cypriot ship is expected to take two to three days to arrive at an undisclosed location.
At the same time, an American ship carrying materials intended for the construction of a temporary dock in Gaza was heading towards the Mediterranean on Sunday. This new call for help comes in the final hours before the holy month of Ramadan, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are going hungry. Hopes for a new ceasefire before Ramadan faded a few days ago, with negotiations apparently at an impasse.
A tragic situation
Egypt is one of several countries that have parachuted aid into Gaza amid a worsening humanitarian crisis that has left nearly a quarter of the population on the brink of famine.
The United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees described the situation in northern Gaza as “tragic.”
“The death toll continues to rise. Humanitarian access across the Gaza Strip and an immediate ceasefire are imperative to save lives.”UNRWA said in a social media post.
On Friday March 8, five people were reportedly killed and ten others injured when a pallet of humanitarian aid fell on them near the coastal al-Shati refugee camp. U.S. Central Command said the deaths were not caused by U.S. airdrops.