WASHINGTON. The U.S. military is preparing to temporarily remove its humanitarian pier off the coast of Gaza due to anticipated sea conditions, a U.S. official stated on Friday. This marks the latest challenge to an effort that has been hampered by adverse weather since the pier’s installation in May.
The floating U.S. military pier off Gaza had only recently resumed bringing humanitarian aid into the enclave after operations were suspended over the weekend. According to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the pier will likely be relocated to the Israeli port of Ashdod until sea conditions improve.
Aid deliveries via the U.S.-built pier began on May 17, with the U.N. reporting the transportation of 137 trucks of aid, approximately 900 metric tons, to warehouses. However, operations were suspended on May 28 for repairs. As of Friday, the United Nations confirmed that the transportation of aid from the pier to U.N. World Food Programme warehouses had not yet resumed.
“Our security colleagues are still working to ensure that secure conditions for humanitarian work can be re-established,” said deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq.
U.S. President Joe Biden announced in March the plan to establish the pier to facilitate aid deliveries as famine loomed in Gaza, a Hamas-run enclave of 2.3 million people, during the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants. The pier’s operation is estimated to cost hundreds of millions of dollars for the first 90 days and involves about 1,000 U.S. service members.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
