Doha / Information Office / April 08  

Upon the directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, two military aircraft of the Qatari Amiri Air Force, carrying two field hospitals, arrived in the Italian Republic today, in support of the efforts of Italian friends to confront and contain the outbreak of the Coronavirus (Covid-19).

The two planes landed consecutively at Pratica di Mare military airport near the capital, Rome, and Verona Villafranca Airport, loaded with two field hospitals. The area of the first field hospital is about 5,200 square meters, and the second hospital is about 4,000 square meters, with a capacity of 1,000 beds for both hospitals. The hospitals are equipped with modern technical devices and equipment for the treatment of people with coronavirus.

The military technical team that arrived on the Qatari medical aid plane at Pratica di Mare military airport was received by HE Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio, and HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Italian Republic Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Malki Al Jehni, HE Qatari Military Attach in Italy, General Hilal bin Ali Al Mohannadi, and HE Commander of the Pratica di Mare military airport General Rosso Alberto.

Upon the arrival of the two military aircraft, HE Ambassador Al Malki said, "In a concrete way Qatar wants to show that it is close to Italy during this difficult time. We will get out of this emergency and we will do it together!" There are a total of four flights with which the State of Qatar will deliver this medical aid: a part of the material will in fact arrive through two more flights expected to land in Italy tomorrow April 9, 2020. A fifth aircraft with medical equipment sent in collaboration with Qatar Fund for Development and Qatar Armed Forces will arrive on Friday.