Another 30 children and their carers will arrive in Italy at the end of January, on board the Navy’s Vulcano ship, which will shortly leave the port of Al-Arish, he added.

He said that “the defence ministry announces with pleasure and a touch of pride the start of the operation”.

Crosetto said, “defence personnel are already at work, together with those of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and [Genoa’s] Gaslini [Paediatric] Hospital, to ensure the transfer”.

ANSA