A US military vessel is en route to the Middle East, carrying equipment to construct a temporary pier off the coast of Gaza, the army has confirmed.
The support ship, General Frank S Besson, embarked from a military base in Virginia on Saturday, following President Joe Biden’s announcement of US plans to construct a floating harbor to facilitate aid delivery to Gaza via sea.
The dire situation in Gaza has prompted this action, with the UN warning of an impending famine and reports of children dying from starvation due to difficulties in land and air aid deliveries.
The departure of the US ship occurred swiftly after Biden’s declaration, with US Central Command stating it left “less than 36 hours” post-announcement, carrying initial equipment to establish the temporary pier for vital humanitarian supply deliveries.
The Pentagon estimates it could take up to 60 days to complete the pier’s construction with the assistance of 1,000 troops, none of whom will disembark.
However, humanitarian organizations express urgency, emphasizing the immediate need for aid in Gaza.
Simultaneously, an aid ship laden with 200 tonnes of food is scheduled to depart from Larnaca, Cyprus, on Sunday afternoon, following the EU’s decision to open a new sea route directly from Cyprus to Gaza over the weekend.
The Open Arms ship, operated by the Spanish charity of the same name and stocked with food from the US charity World Central Kitchen, is poised to sail, although concerns remain about how aid will reach shore without a functioning port.
Oscar Camps, founder of Open Arms, revealed plans for a pier at the undisclosed destination point, constructed by the World Central Kitchen team, to receive aid shipments.
Israel has endorsed this ocean initiative, pledging to conduct security checks in Cyprus before allowing aid to proceed “in accordance with Israeli standards.”
The conflict in Gaza, initiated by Hamas attacks on Israel in October, has led to significant casualties and a burgeoning humanitarian crisis, prompting urgent appeals for assistance.
Amidst accusations of obstructing aid efforts, Israel refutes claims of using starvation as a weapon of war but faces mounting pressure to facilitate humanitarian access to Gaza’s beleaguered population.
The ongoing mission to establish a temporary pier signifies international efforts to address the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands are at risk of food insecurity amidst escalating tensions.
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.
