Overview
- The refitted Mitsubishi was presented in Bethlehem and blessed by Cardinal Anders Arborelius, who named it the “Vehicle of Hope.”
- The Vatican says the conversion was among Pope Francis’s last wishes, with Caritas overseeing the project; the vehicle was originally donated by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in 2014.
- The clinic is configured for pediatric triage and primary care with rapid tests, suturing kits, oxygen, vaccines, and a small refrigerator, and Caritas estimates capacity at up to about 200 consultations per day.
- Israeli authorization for entry to Gaza has not been granted, and Caritas leader Alistair Dutton says negotiations are underway to secure access.
- Once admitted, Caritas plans to integrate the unit with roughly ten mobile clinics already operating in the Strip, several of which have been damaged over two years of war.