Yesterday morning, an Italian Air Force C130-J, configured for medical transport operations, landed at the Libyan base in Benina, near the city of Benghazi, and loaded 22 injured Libyans. This is the first group of people considered to be suitable for air transport by the relevant medical committee of the Ministry of Defence. The aircraft left Libya in the afternoon and landed in Rome at around 8:30 p.m. the same day. The 22 injured people were all admitted to the Celio Military Hospital.
Implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in close coordination with the Ministries of Defence, the Interior and Health, and other relevant public bodies, the operation is the latest in a series of initiatives with which Italy intends to continue providing humanitarian assistance to Libyan security forces involved in the fight against terrorism.
“Our action – commented the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Angelino Alfano – doesn’t stop here. For this same purpose, we shall also provide assistance by supplying emergency medical kits to the various hospitals around the country. Our efforts are aimed at helping injured people across Libya, and therefore to support their actions against terrorism all over the country”.
“The Defence’s commitment in Libya, in support of forces opposing Daesh – said the Minister of Defence Roberta Pinotti – has a strong humanitarian element, as shown by the ‘Ippocrate’ military medical operation. Furthermore, as part of the European “Sofia” mission, we are contributing to training the Libyan Coast Guard, so that it can independently manage human and arms trafficking along its coastline”.
