FLOODING IN MOZAMBIQUE: ARMED FORCES SUPPORTING CIVIL PROTECTION

Support for the populations affected by the floods in Mozambique continues. A second Italian Air Force aircraft has departed carrying an Advanced Medical Post and a team of healthcare professionals and technicians. On Monday 25 March, a second Air Force aircraft took off to transport humanitarian aid and civil protection personnel to Mozambique, a country affected by the devastating Cyclone Idai. This is the aircraftKC-767Afrom the 14th Wing of Pratica di Mare. The first humanitarian flight, carried out witha planeC-130Jfrom the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa, he departed on Sunday 24 March, taking off from his base.
The KC-767A is transporting a Level 2 Field Hospital (PMA) to the African country, provided by the Piedmont Region, along with an additional team of healthcare professionals and technicians.
The entire operation – ordered by the Chief of the Defence Staff, GeneralEnzo Vecciarellion the instruction of the Minister of Defence,Elisabetta Trenta– falls within the scope of the humanitarian operation decided to contribute to the assistance of the populations of Mozambique affected by catastrophicflooding.
The’humanitarian interventionit has been decided, at the request of the European Commission to the Member States, by the President of the Council,Giuseppe Conte.
This operation once again demonstrates the dual systemic use of the Defence's capabilities and components, allowing the country to have a military instrument capable of ensuring, in addition to defence and security tasks, effective integration with the State's civilian components for non-military activities supporting the community, both in Italy and abroad.
IThe 3rd Wing of Villafranca is a support unit acting as an “initial strategic facilitator” for the projection capabilities of the Italian Air Force's logistics and Defence in general. It is capable of projecting operational and logistical support components for any deployment of air forces and beyond, both in Italy and abroad, during the initial phases of an operation, as well as during the preparation and consolidation of support. This projection capability can be used to support activities for the benefit of the community.