ITALY PLEDGES €1 MILLION TO SUPPORT EAST JERUSALEM HOSPITALS

Al-Quds, 9 Rajab 1436/28 April 2015 (MINA) – Italy will donate €1 million to support six hospitals in East Jerusalem and help them overcome their financial burdens, it has been announced.

The donation was revealed by Italy’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Lapo Pistelli, during a meeting in the occupied city with representatives from the hospitals on Monday, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“Italy has a long history of cooperation with the Palestinian population in the healthcare sector,” said Pistelli, “and the country was for many years the top donor for healthcare in Palestine.” Italy, he added, is “strongly committed” to such support.

The EU and donor countries have supported healthcare in Palestine with nearly €40 million since 2012.

This includes covering the costs of patients who are referred to hospitals in East Jerusalem.

A representative of the recipient hospitals, Dr Rafiq Husseini, thanked the Italian government for making the donation, in addition to its contribution along with other European countries to cover the Palestinian Authority’s accumulated debt in 2014.

The six hospitals in question are Augusta Victoria Hospital, Princess Basma Rehabilitation Centre, Makassed Hospital, St. John Eye Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society Hospital. (T/P002/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)