A flight organized by the Italian Cooperation and departing from the UN logistics base in Brindisi as part of the initiative landed in Amman in the early hours of the morning. “Food for Gaza”. This is a load of over 60 tons which includes non-perishable food, collected thanks to the support of Coldiretti and Confagricoltura, in addition to hygiene-sanitary kits, health equipment and 150 tents made available by the Italian Cooperation. The material was taken over in Jordan for subsequent transport and distribution in the Gaza Strip for the benefit of the Palestinian civilian population.
The Food for Gaza initiative was launched in March at the instigation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, with the participation of FAO, WFP, Red Cross and Red Crescent. “With this operation we give a tangible demonstration of the attention that the Italian Government is dedicating to the humanitarian situation in the Strip,” said the head of the Farnesina. It is our commitment, Tajani continued, “to do everything possible to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian population in Gaza”.
This first shipment will be followed by other shipments of goods donated by the components of the country system. Today’s humanitarian flight follows the provision, last July 9, of a latest generation scanner necessary to enhance the functionality of the maritime corridor starting from Cyprus. It will allow speeding up checks on containers of international humanitarian aid reaching Gaza through Israeli ports. Further financial contributions are also being studied in favor of FAO, WFP, Ficross (Red Cross and Crescent federation) for projects to support the Palestinian population.
Aid includes over 60 tonnes of food, hygiene kits and sanitary equipment, along with 150 tents. The flight, which departed from the southern city of Brindisi, has landed in the Jordan capital of Amman from where the materials will be delivered to Gaza.
“With this operation we give a tangible demonstration of the attention that the Italian government is dedicating to the humanitarian situation in the Strip,” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said.
He added Italy was committed “to do everything possible to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian population in Gaza.”
The Food for Gaza initiative is led by Italy together with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),the World Food programme (WFP) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
On Wednesday, the U.S. military announced that its mission to install and operate a temporary, floating pier off the coast of Gaza was complete, formally ending an effort to bring humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
Italy said in May it would allocate 30 million euros ($32.8 million) in the Food for Gaza plan, as it resumed funding for the United Nations’ Palestinian relief organisation UNRWA.UNRWA faced criticism over allegations that some of its staff were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war. ($1 = 0.9151 euros)
