Middle East conflict erupts - Military: Humanitarian aid now available on the shoreline in Gaza
There are ongoing problems with the delivery of humanitarian aid using the provisional docking station set up by the US military on the coast of Gaza. The supplies have reached the beach, but they haven't been distributed yet, according to Sabrina Singh, a spokesperson for the US Defense Department, in response to a question on Wednesday. "As far as I know, the aid that arrived yesterday and today has been collected in the port area. However, it hasn't been distributed yet."
The World Food Programme (WFP) had halted the distribution of the aid sent through the docking station due to fears for its staff's safety over the weekend. Previously, two WFP warehouses were hit by rockets, and an employee was injured.
Deliveries resumed on Saturday morning after the docking station, which had sustained severe damage from rough seas in late May, required repairs. The WFP confirmed that the attack occurred on the same day. Pentagon spokesperson Singh said on Wednesday that the WFP was now taking the necessary precautions "to feel safe and be able to operate in Gaza." The US is not in the way and is ready to cooperate as soon as the inspections are completed. For further details, she advised referring to the organization itself.
The temporary setup allows cargo ships to bring aid supplies from Cyprus to a floating platform several kilometers off the coast of Gaza. The products are then moved to smaller ships that can get closer to the coast. These, in turn, unload the trucks onto a makeshift pier on the coast. The aid is then collected by charitable organizations and distributed within Gaza. The estimated cost of the docking station is approximately $230 million (€212 million).
While the docking station is a provisional solution, it allows for humanitarian aid to reach the people who need it most in Gaza. The US Defense Department remains committed to helping facilitate this process.
