Inspectors from the Pentagon and USAID initiate assessments of Gaza humanitarian port
The Pentagon and USAID inspectors general are currently reviewing the distribution of humanitarian aid to Gaza through a temporary pier that has experienced occasional disruptions.
The offices of the inspector generals for the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have initiated reviews of the temporary Gaza humanitarian aid pier. The pier has encountered delays and interruptions due to adverse weather conditions.
On June 27, the Pentagon’s inspector general and USAID’s inspector general jointly announced they will undertake separate reviews focusing on their respective responsibilities related to the Trident Pier, also known as the temporary aid pier.
“Through our partnership, we aim to utilize the expertise, resources, and capabilities of our teams to enhance oversight in this crucial area,” stated Pentagon Inspector General Robert Storch on Thursday.
The Pentagon’s review will be conducted in two phases, evaluating the military’s efforts in facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza via the maritime corridor. The initial phase will concentrate on understanding the military’s roles, responsibilities, and controls regarding the project, while the second phase will assess their execution of these roles and responsibilities during construction and operation.
Similarly, the USAID review will be carried out in phases, focusing on the agency’s supervision of the transfer of humanitarian aid from the pier to the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) distribution partners in the Gaza Strip.
President Joe Biden introduced plans for the temporary aid pier during his State of the Union address on March 7, prompted by the prolonged Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
The initiative to establish a sea corridor for humanitarian aid emerged out of concerns about the escalating risk of famine in the embattled region. The conflict in the Gaza Strip has disrupted overland aid deliveries. Additionally, activists in Israel have been accused of hindering aid trucks bound for Gaza and depleting their supplies.
The Biden administration commenced airdropping humanitarian supplies and subsequently decided to open the sea corridor following a tragic incident on Feb. 29, where numerous individuals were injured and killed during a rush on an aid delivery convoy in northern Gaza. While some reports suggested that Israeli troops fired on the crowd, resulting in casualties, the Israeli military maintained that they fired to disperse the crowd, attributing most casualties to accidents caused by the chaotic situation.
String of Challenges
The U.S. military encountered difficulties during the initial construction of the pier, with poor weather causing delays. The pier was eventually utilized by delivery trucks for the first time on May 17.
However, the pier sustained damage on May 25 due to adverse weather, leading to a decision to relocate it for repairs. It was subsequently reattached to the Gazan shore on June 7 but was relocated once again on June 14 in preparation for rough seas. The most recent reattachment occurred on June 20, with the Pentagon reaffirming its commitment to the humanitarian pier mission.
