On the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, and following a report by the Minister for Civil Protection, Nello Musumeci, the government has decided to extend the state of emergency in the Gaza Strip by 12 months, as a result of the events currently taking place in that territory, in view of continuing to implement assistance interventions for the population concerned. Said people are in a tragic situation, with a lack of food and necessary care, without the prospect of restoring health care facilities.
The previous allocation of EUR 5 million is also being supplemented with additional resources amounting to 2 million and 500 thousand euros – a measure necessary to carry out the transfers of patients to countries where they can receive the necessary care, especially people, often children, affected by severe illnesses that cannot be treated and assisted locally. The resources are from the National Emergency Fund.
Foreign Minister Tajani said: “Since the beginning of the crisis, Italy has been at the forefront in assisting the civilian population of the Gaza Strip. We are working with Israel, the Palestinian National Authority and the UN World Food Programme to try to reopen a passage to continue the Food for Gaza programme and let Italian food aid pass through. In the meantime, we will continue to assist Palestinian patients. To date, over 100 minors, together with their families, have been transferred from Gaza to be treated in Italian facilities. We are ready to continue this action to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population.”
Minister Musumeci explained: “With our Civil Protection we are working to ensure timely assistance and the necessary relief to the population of Gaza. With the resources provided so far by the Meloni government – 7.5 million – we essentially aim to carry out further transfers of people in need of medical care and to provide goods and means of subsistence to Palestinian civilians”.
