Italian hospitals to host the first 21 Palestinian children with cancer. Tajani and Bernini chair meeting with Regional Authorities, FAO, UN World Food Programme, and Italian[...]

In today's "Food for Gaza" meeting convened by Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, discussions centred on the immediate healthcare assistance to be provided to the population of the Gaza Strip. The Minister returned from Palestine on Monday with a request to host an initial group of 21 Palestinian children with cancer in Italy. Efforts are already underway by some Italian regions and university hospitals, which are mobilising for international assistance.

Today's meeting marked the beginning of a new phase in support for the population in the Middle East, aiming at reconstructing the social fabric of the Gaza Strip in the wake of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. This follows Minister Tajani's announcement of a new €10 million emergency funding package during his recent mission to Israel and Palestine.

Minister Tajani is scheduled to visit Ashdod port in the coming weeks for the arrival of a ship delivering 15 trucks donated to the World Food Programme and 15 tonnes of new emergency medical supplies.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Universities and Research Annamaria Bernini, primarily due to the involvement of university hospitals. Speakers included the President of the Piedmont Region Alberto Cirio; the Mayor of Turin Stefano Lo Russo, representing ANCI; the Delegate for International Cooperation of the Emilia-Romagna Region Luca Rizzo Nervo, also representing the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces; Deputy Director-General of the FAO, Maurizio Martina; Director of International Cooperation and Relations of the Italian Red Cross Roberta Fusacchia; Director of Innovation, Change and Knowledge Management at the United Nations World Food Programme, Dominik Heinrich.

Antonella Polimeni, Rector of the Sapienza University of Rome, presented an initial healthcare action plan to be undertaken by the involved university hospitals.

Initially the Italian universities would like to propose a project that has as a general objective to provide support to the needs of the maternal-child population of Gaza and that includes:

1. Deployment of specialised medical personnel: Multidisciplinary teams of hygienists/infectious disease specialists, obstetricians-gynaecologists, surgeons, orthopaedists, neurologists/psychiatrists, gastroenterologists, psychologists, nutritionists, nurses, and cultural mediators will address the maternal and child health needs in Gaza.
2. Installation of local IT systems: These will enable continuous telemedicine and teleconsultation links between the Gaza population, local operators, and Sapienza specialists, supporting care and monitoring the population's needs in real time.
3. Organisation of fundraising campaigns: These campaigns will collect funds, medications, and medical equipment to be sent to personnel working in Gaza.

The current situation in Gaza is described as "post-war," marked by extensive physical destruction of service facilities, instability in essential supplies, and a largely displaced population (Internally Displaced People). In this context, targeted measures are essential to prevent outbreaks of epidemics, including waterborne diseases, vaccine-preventable infectious diseases, and skin diseases.