2023-11-02 22:06:47
France intends to send a second helicopter carrier off the coast of Gaza as part of its work with the Israeli and Egyptian authorities to find a way to provide medical aid to those affected by the Israeli bombing in the besieged area.
Paris has already sent the Tonnerre aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean in what President Emmanuel Macron described as a mission to support Gaza hospitals. This week, Egypt began accepting limited numbers of wounded across its border with Gaza.
But it is not clear what exactly the ships will do in the area because they are too small to serve as field hospitals to accommodate the number of wounded arriving from Gaza.
The Dexmo helicopter carrier will now also head to the region, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu told France Info radio.
“It is being prepared to be converted into a hospital ship,” LeCorno added.
A French military source said that the Tonnerre carrier, which includes about 60 beds and two surgical suites, can only be used temporarily and as support for a larger hospital on the ground.
When asked about the possibilities of transporting people from land to sea, Licorno said that things are still in the planning stage and discussions are continuing with the Egyptian and Israeli authorities.
“The idea is to say to all actors in this conflict that we cannot leave the civilian population vulnerable and, above all, without a healthcare solution at the humanitarian level,” Lecorno added.
He said he hoped France’s decision would encourage sending others to ships as well.
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