Italian navy ship brings aid to Dar

Italian Ambassador to Tanzania, Luigi Scotto (2nd R), founder of Bagamoyo Sober House, Al-karim Bhanji (C) and invited guests including Italian navy crew. Photo: Courtesy of Italian Embassy.

 During a port visit to Dar es Salaam last week, officers and sailors of the Italian Navy have been engaged in civil aid initiatives for the benefit of health facilities, rehabilitation of centres and infant schools in coordination with the Development Cooperation Office of the Embassy of Italy in Dar es Salaam. 

 

The Italian ship, named after the Carabinieri Corps, the fourth unit of the Italian Army, was launched in 2014 by virtue of the forthcoming bicentenary of the “Carabinieri” foundation. 

 

As a missile frigate specialized in anti-submarine fight, the ship has been deployed from Italy since October 2015 as flagship of the EU’s Naval Force Operation Atalanta. 

 

The stopover in Dar es Salaam offered the ship’s crew the opportunity to engage in some volunteer work and cooperate with Tanzanian and Italian NGOs in support to health and educational facilities. 

 

In particular, refurbishment and rehabilitation works were carried out in coordination with the Italian NGO CEFA at the Paediatric Oncology Ward at Muhimbili National Hospital and patients guest house alongside with the provision of fans and other necessities as a contribution to the mission of “Tumaini la Maisha”, Tanzanian NGO dedicated to improving wellbeing of children with Cancer.

 

Other beneficiary institutions included the Bagamoyo Sober House, a rehabilitation center run by the local NGO Life and Hope Rehabilitation Organisation founded by Mr Al-karim Bhanji as well as the Health Centre and Caregivers Guest House Sisi Ni Kesho supported in Nyololo by the Italian NGO COPE. 

 

Donations were also made to the education and health facilities run by the Consolata missionaries in Ubungo Parish. 

 

Finally, the Italian navy provided drugs and other indispensable medical supplies to the DREAM Centre of Iringa (centre for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS) run by the Italian Association Communita’ di Sant'Egidio.

 

Italian Ambassador to Tanzania, Luigi Scotto was welcomed aboard the EU Naval Force flagship, ITS Carabiniere, upon docking of the ship at the port of Dar es Salaam whereby he was briefed in person by the Force Commander, Rear Admiral Stefano Barbieri, on the force’s current operations. 

 

During the visit, Ambassador Scotto thanked all the officers and sailors for their contribution to the operation’s achievements in deterring and disrupting piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden and enhancing maritime security.

 

Invited to attend the donations handover ceremony, the Italian envoy commended the charitable work of the crew, expressing his deep gratitude to the Tanzanian people for their being “always welcoming, friendly and generous”. 

 

In his speech to the crew, Ambassador Scotto said: “My esteem towards the Italian Navy is the highest. So is my recognition for the meritorious initiatives that ITS Carabiniere, in consultation with our Embassy, has carried out since its arrival last Saturday at the Harbour of Dar Es Salaam.”