The Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Maria Tripodi, spoke today in Amman, on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, at the international Conference “Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza”. At the centre of the agenda there was a discussion on the actions to be taken to ensure the necessary response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
The Conference, organised at the initiative of Jordan’s King Abdullah II, UN Secretary Guterres and Egyptian President Al Sisi, was attended, among others, by European Council President Charles Michel, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Qatari Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.
Undersecretary Tripodi stated: “Eight months after Hamas’ terrorist aggression against Israel, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is very severe and steadily deteriorating. Considering the persistent difficulties in accessing aid in the Strip, the people of Gaza are in a state of extreme need.” She added that in this context “‘Italy has played a leading role since the beginning of the crisis. We were among the first European countries to support the population, sending the Vulcano ship to assist the wounded, and treating numerous children caught up in the conflict, welcoming around 60 of them to Italy’s best paediatric hospitals. Since the beginning of the conflict, the Italian government has allocated 55 million Euros for humanitarian aid inside the Strip and organised humanitarian flights with basic necessities”.
The Undersecretary recalled that, among the actions undertaken, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tajani also launched in March – in collaboration with WFP, FAO and FICROSS, and involving numerous components of the country’s system – the “Food for Gaza” programme to ensure the prompt delivery of non-perishable foodstuffs, as well as medical and sanitary equipment to the Strip. On 3 June, the first shipment of 24 tonnes of aid for the Palestinian population left Nepi.
While thanking Egypt and Jordan for organising the Conference, stressing their fundamental role in the stability of the region and their strong bilateral ties with Italy, Undersecretary Tripodi pointed out that “at this time of extreme difficulty for the region, it is essential to maintain strong coordination between our countries in order to achieve the common goal of coexistence in peace and security among the peoples involved in this terrible crisis.”