New group of 15 sick children arrives from Gaza: to be treated in Italian hospitals

The first C-130 aircraft of the Italian Air Force has arrived from Eilat (Israel), carrying a new group of Palestinian minors from Gaza. The patients were welcomed to Italy as part of the fifteenth humanitarian evacuation operation carried out by the country. On this occasion too, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to urgent appeals concerning extremely delicate cases of minors requiring life-saving treatment. Among them is little Tuleen, a newborn suffering from a serious congenital malformation, who will be admitted to Meyer Children's Hospital in Florence.

In total, 15 young patients, accompanied by family members and carers (making up 81 people in all), landed at the airports of Rome, Lecce, Pisa and Verona aboard three C-130 aircraft provided by the Ministry of Defence. They will be transferred to twelve hospitals across seven regions (Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Lombardy, Tuscany and Puglia). Representing the Government at Rome Ciampino Airport was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani.

This brings to 196 the number of young patients from Gaza received in Italy together with their families, amounting to over 650 people. Italy has given priority to the admission of sick Palestinian children, all suffering from serious congenital diseases or severe injuries and amputations. More than twenty healthcare facilities throughout the country have so far been involved in these medical operations.

The operations are made possible through coordination between the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of the Interior and the Civil Protection Department. The evacuations are carried out in cooperation with the World Health Organization and the European Civil Protection Mechanism.

Italy thus confirms its role as the first Western country - more than all other European states combined - to have organised the transfer of patients from Gaza to specialised hospitals.

Alongside this latest operation, two further special flights by the Guardia di Finanza will take place in the coming days, bringing an additional 72 people, including students and family reunifications. These flights are being arranged with the contribution of CRUI, the Civil Protection Department and the European Civil Protection Mechanism.