According to the US military, the first trucks have begun supplying aid to the war-ravaged Gaza Strip via the temporary pier installed by U.S.
“This is an ongoing, multinational effort to deliver additional aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza via a maritime corridor that is entirely humanitarian in nature,” it said.
The aid is being shipped out of Cyprus, the European Union’s easternmost member about 360 kilometres (225 miles) from Gaza.
The latest shipment was carrying EU supplies, including 88,000 cans of food from Romania.
The UK also disclosed that it delivered aid to Gaza via the floating pier for the first time to transport shelter kits into the enclave.
“UK aid is now being delivered to people through the temporary pier off Gaza,” British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak said in a statement.
“More aid will follow in the coming weeks, but we know the maritime route is not the only answer. We need to see more land routes open,” he added.
Moreover, UK Foreign Secretary, David Cameron said, “This first delivery of UK aid through the Cyprus Maritime Corridor is a major milestone in the international community’s efforts to maximise aid going into Gaza.”
“The UK has played a central role in this and we’re already working on getting our next shipment into Gaza soon as possible,” he said.
“But maritime is just one part of the bigger picture. Land routes remain the most effective means of getting aid into Gaza at the scale needed. Gazans are at risk of famine and in desperate need of supplies – Israel must ensure land routes are open and that aid gets safely to where it is needed.”
David Cameron
Pier To Supplement Land Crossings, Not Replace Them
The UN stated that the pier will augment aid supply to the besieged Gaza strip.
UN Spokesperson, Farhan Haq said that the UN “agreed to support in receiving and arranging for the dispatch of aid into Gaza” from the floating dock built by the US.
He said the UN will continue to work with the pier “as long as it respects the neutrality and independence of humanitarian operations”.
Haq asserted that aid deliveries by land remain the most effective way to combat the humanitarian crisis impacting 2.3 million people in the besieged enclave.
“Given the immense needs in Gaza, the floating dock is intended to supplement existing land crossings of aid into Gaza, including Rafah, Kerem Shalom [Karem Abu Salem] and Erez [Beit Hanoun]. It is not meant to replace any crossings.”
Farhan Haq
Meanwhile, White House National Security communications adviser, John Kirby, stated that more aid needs to flow into Gaza despite a new US-built pier off the coast becoming operational.
He revealed that the first aid delivery off the pier was 300 pallets of food, adding that the hope is that will triple in the coming days.
“It’s not enough getting in right now. This temporary pier is not enough all on its own to get the food, water, and medicine to the Palestinians in Gaza they so desperately need.
“We have to get those land crossings open as soon as possible. Clearly not enough is being done to open up the crossings. That’s just unacceptable.”
John Kirby
He noted that there are aid trucks waiting at three land crossings to get into Gaza, and “the Israeli military can do that without a significant footprint.”
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