Thursday, March 3, 2011

At the start of the Italian humanitarian missions Frattini: "No military intervention"

ROME - There is a package of measures to alleviate the humanitarian situation in North Africa shocked by the riots and the migratory pressure on the Italian coast in the middle of the Council of Ministers held in Palazzo Chigi. Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has anticipated that in Italy the next few hours will aid in Benghazi, Libya's second city.

Just from Benghazi organization Doctors Without Borders urges that his team can reach the western part of the country, still isolated, and announced that will set up a camp in Tunisia on the border with Libya, also dealing with the return of thousands of Egyptian citizens. At present, Frattini said, there are 77 thousand people in Tunisia, 70% of whom are Egyptians.

The first step will be a departure from Catania, tomorrow, the patrol Libra, on which at this time is charging the humanitarian aid: kit, blankets, food. Frattini: Cyrenaica in aid, no military intervention. As for the two humanitarian missions, said the minister, the first - at the request of Egypt and Tunisia - provides aid to about 60 thousand Egyptians working in Libya and now fled to Tunisia.

"We have been asked to assist and ensure that they can return home safely," said Frattini. The second humanitarian mission will head to Cyrenaica bringing food and medicine to the population. As instead regards a possible military intervention, "is a hypothesis that has already raised the concerns of the Arab League," said the minister, which excludes "categorically" that Italy would participate in military action in Libya "For obvious reasons linked to our colonial past." At most, he adds, "we could give the availability of our logistics bases, but in this case, a clear international mandate of the UN.

And, anyway, any kind of action must take into account the delicate political and cultural context of the Arab world ". Coordination between European ministers. To coordinate efforts in the humanitarian field in Libya and take stock of developments in the crisis, Frattini has coordinated with the High Representative of Foreign and European Catherine Ashton with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe.

Ashton has also probed with Frattini the Italian willingness to help logistically possible mission of the European crisis of Tripoli. Goal, make a preliminary survey of the situation of European citizens' security and humanitarian. Among the topics addressed by the EU High Representative and his French colleague the various aspects of the crisis, including the issue of the No Fly Zone.

The details of the missions. "Within 24-48 hours - said Frattini - are capable of starting to set up ships in the area of Ras Jejder a field of Italian assistance in collaboration with UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Migrants." The government has allocated € 5 million for the first start of the mission.

We will use military means, but also a ferry, making available for free from Grimaldi. The second mission, however, will be directed towards Benghazi and Misurata. The mission involved an Italian camp in Tunisian territory with emergency food and medical assistance "to people of all their belongings looted," and then accompany them with ships and aircraft true Alexandria and Cairo.

At the Italian mission will support Austria. The camps run by Tunisian police and NGOs. Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa said the humanitarian mission will support the military with the sole aim of supporting the civil and security structures that will be implemented. The management of the camps will be for international humanitarian organizations and the Tunisian police.

The Minister of Health Ferruccio Fazio added that Italy will send a task force composed of medical experts from five medical technicians in various fields "to support the Italian mission. Furthermore, "if there is an increase of migrants are prepared to ensure the health situation of the camps." The exodus continues.

Meanwhile, the exodus from the Maghreb does not stop. There are 552 migrants, almost all of Tunisian nationality, arrived in Lampedusa last night. Were housed at the shelter, waiting to be transferred to Bari and Brindisi. Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, said that they are being set up in the reception centers, and that Italy is preparing a comprehensive plan should they see mass exodus from areas affected by the targeted anti-Gaddafi.

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