US Military Announces Completion of Temporary Pier Off Gaza to Increase Aid to Palestinians in Israel-Hamas Conflict
A long-awaited temporary pier has been built to deliver urgent aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, according to the US military.
The US Central Command stated that its personnel anchored the pier at about 7.40am local time (5.40am BST) as part of a mission to provide additional humanitarian aid to Gaza, where thousands of people are facing starvation due to insufficient aid supplies reaching the area.
“As part of this effort, no US troops entered Gaza. Trucks carrying humanitarian assistance are expected to begin moving ashore in the coming days. The United Nations will receive the aid and coordinate its distribution into Gaza,” a post on X said.
The UN, however, has not yet determined its role in the distribution of aid once it arrives at the pier.
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In trying to increase aid to Gaza, particularly following the 7 October attack, Washington is expected to encounter challenges similar to those faced by the UN and other relief agencies for months.
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The challenges of delivering critical aid in a war zone, along with a severe fuel shortage for trucks, pose significant risks in aiding Gaza.
“Once you get food or supplies into the Gaza Strip, whether it’s from the pier or crossing points, there is no security and… There’s no fuel,” said Bob Kitchen, the International Rescue Committee’s vice president for emergencies.
The maritime route, fraught with logistical, weather, and security challenges, aims to increase aid delivery to the Gaza Strip. However, it is not seen as a replacement for more sustainable, land-based aid deliveries.
The aid brought by boat will be unloaded at a port facility constructed by the Israelis just southwest of Gaza City and then distributed by aid organizations.
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