A humanitarian aid ship, Open Arms, is set to embark on a journey this weekend to deliver much-needed assistance to Gaza. Departing from Cyprus, the closest EU country to Gaza, the vessel aims to utilize a recently opened shipping route. Due to the absence of a functional port and shallow waters in Gaza, the docking location upon arrival remains uncertain.
The United Nations reports that a quarter of Gaza’s population is on the verge of famine, leading to the starvation of children. The ship, operated by the Spanish charity Open Arms, is anticipated to reach Gaza in the coming days.
The Open Arms vessel, according to its founder Oscar Camps speaking to the Associated Press, will be towing a barge carrying 200 tonnes of food supplied by the US charity World Central Kitchen.
Scheduled to depart from Larnaca port in Cyprus over the weekend, the journey is expected to take two to three days, ending at an undisclosed location off the coast of Gaza, Camps explained.
While the final leg of the voyage covering approximately 216 nautical miles poses logistical challenges, particularly in terms of security, Camps expressed confidence in the operation’s success.
Upon arrival, a team from the World Central Kitchen has been constructing a pier to facilitate the aid’s reception, Camps stated. The charity operates 60 kitchens across Gaza to ensure effective distribution of the food supplies.
An announcement on Open Arms’ X account described the journey as a once-daunting task now on the brink of realization.
“The readiness of our tugboat is immediate, carrying essential provisions such as food, water, and crucial supplies for the Palestinian population.”
World Central Kitchen revealed its extensive preparations for this humanitarian mission, anticipating the opening of the shipping route for weeks.
The establishment of the maritime corridor was disclosed by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Friday during her visit to Cyprus.
This announcement followed President Joe Biden’s declaration a day earlier about the United States’ intention to construct a temporary floating port along Gaza’s shoreline.
Later, the Pentagon clarified that the construction of the temporary port would take approximately 60 days and require around 1,000 troops for completion, with none of them disembarking.
According to US officials, the port will have the capacity to accommodate large vessels transporting essential supplies such as food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters. The initial deliveries will come through Cyprus, where Israeli security inspections are scheduled.
A Pentagon spokesperson highlighted that the newly constructed pier could facilitate the distribution of up to 2 million meals daily.
The coordination or collaboration between the US temporary pier and the EU sea corridor remains unclear, as there was no mention or indication of each other’s plans by President Biden or Ms. Von der Leyen.
Supplying aid to the Gaza Strip has become increasingly challenging and risky. Last month, the World Food Programme halted its deliveries to northern Gaza due to “complete chaos and violence” experienced by its convoys.
Given the difficulties with land deliveries, some nations have resorted to air drops. However, this method is inefficient in the dire conditions in Gaza. Unfortunately, there were reports on Friday of five individuals killed by a falling aid package when its parachute failed to open properly.
The situation in Gaza escalated after Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7, prompting Israel’s military to launch an air and ground campaign. The conflict resulted in about 1,200 casualties and 253 people taken hostage. Since then, more than 30,800 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
The ongoing conflict has intensified a burgeoning humanitarian crisis, prompting the UN to caution that famine in Gaza is “almost inevitable.”
A senior UN aid official recently highlighted that at least 576,000 people, constituting one-fourth of the population across the Gaza Strip, are grappling with catastrophic food insecurity. Additionally, one in six children under the age of two in the north is experiencing acute malnutrition.
While Save the Children appreciated the international efforts to increase aid to Gaza, it emphasized the urgency of immediate action, stating that children cannot afford to wait for the construction of a temporary port. The charity stressed that lives are at stake, with children already succumbing to malnutrition.
Doctors Without Borders criticized the US plan for a temporary pier, considering it a diversion from the actual issue. The organization urged Israel to facilitate the unhindered flow of supplies into Gaza.
