I asked FAO, WFP and the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent "to participate in a meeting with the Italian government to launch a program, Food for Gaza, which aims to coordinate the action of these organizations. objective is to create an initiative that allows us to do more in the face of the humanitarian situation in Gaza" and "we have decided to create a technical coordination table open to all actors wishing to give their contribution".
Video Tajani presents the 'Food for Gaza' project with FAO, Pam and Ficross
This was announced by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in a press conference at the Farnesina after meeting the director of the FAO Qu Dongyu, the executive director of the WFP Cindy H. McCain and the deputy secretary general of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (FICROSS). Xavier Castellanos for the launch of the Food for Gaza initiative.
"For the Italian side, it will be coordinated by Ambassador Archi", Italy's representative at the FAO, "with the aim of working together by promoting coordination and making available the best that Italy can offer".
Civil Protection, already involved in the EU maritime corridor for Gaza, will also participate at the table, "because our approach wants to be concrete".
"I will inform the G7, the European Council of Foreign Affairs, the government of Israel, the PNA about the initiative", underlined Tajani.
"And through the Arab countries that dialogue with Hamas we will also get the message to Hamas."
"The help that is thrown from the sky is not enough" on the Gaza Strip, "we need to increase the trucks that enter from the Rafah crossing, today there are a few dozen and they are absolutely not enough" and "since there is little food, riots".
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said this underlining that Italian funds for UNRWA "have not resumed and at the moment" remain suspended "until there is a clarification and any participation in terrorist activities by employees is excluded".
Food, healthcare and reconstruction.
Food for Gaza is underway
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani officially launches 'Food for Gaza', the initiative with FAO, WFP and the Red Cross and Red Crescent (Ficross) for humanitarian assistance in the Strip, meeting the heads of the organizations involved at the Farnesina and launching a coordination table.
There are two objectives: in the short term the increase in food and health aid, and then to concentrate - in the long term - on the human and social reconstruction of the enclave.
It all stems from a concept clearly expressed by the head of the Farnesina: Italy wants to have a concrete role in supporting the Palestinian civilian population, but the only way to do so is to act together, not to move forward alone.
And with the UN food agencies present in Rome, our country feels the duty to team up to coordinate efforts in favor of Gaza and the West Bank.
Ficross can instead play an important complementary role, leveraging its independence, good relations with all parties and the network of Palestinian companies that can provide a contribution in various phases of operations.
With today's meeting, Italy intends first of all to guarantee its support for the efforts of FAO, WFP and Ficross in the development of a strategy for the coordination of aid, in the short and medium term, to guarantee the food and health security of the population strengthening humanitarian access, including by sea.
A commitment that is part of the initiative announced by US President Joe Biden to create a floating port structure near the coasts of Gaza, and in the parallel commitment of a group of countries - including Italy - in favor of the creation of a corridor maritime for the delivery of aid.
At the same time, our country intends to contribute to ensuring immediate emergency assistance to the population, as a priority emergency.
After five months of conflict, the humanitarian situation has in fact become unsustainable, with international organizations and the PNA denouncing the constant increase in malnutrition and the worsening risk of epidemics, in addition to the large number of direct victims and the enormous material damage for the war.
Finally, the objective of the meeting is to launch a permanent table - coordinated at a political level by Minister Tajani - to subsequently address the reconstruction of the Strip, with particular reference to the restoration of the territory starting from demining, the reclamation of agricultural land, the provision of basic health and food services to the population, also making use of the expertise and technological contributions of the Italian food supply chain system and of the other partners who intend to join: local authorities, Italian hospitals, universities, civil society organisations.
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