Outbound help: First aid ship bound for new Gaza pier sets sail from Cyprus

May 09, 2024

Karah Rucker Anchor

By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

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The first aid ship is on its way to an American-built floating pier in Gaza as the humanitarian crisis worsens in the region. The boat left from Cyprus on Thursday, May 9. As it the ship sails toward Gaza, questions remain about the logistics of aid distribution and whether the pier is finished.

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President Joe Biden announced the construction of the pier two months ago. However, the United States military has not finished installing it. A Pentagon spokesperson revealed that crews have not transported certain parts of the pier to Gaza yet. The ships carrying those parts are waiting for better sea conditions.

Once the pier is operational, the vessel carrying humanitarian aid will transfer pallets of supplies to an offshore floating platform. Crews will then load the pallets onto trucks on new, smaller boats that will take the cargo to the beach. Israel Defense Forces will unload the trucks there. U.S. defense officials maintained that no U.S. forces will set food on the ground.

The operation of the pier has become even more important after the closure of Gaza’s two main land crossings, stopping humanitarian aid deliveries. In addition, concerns are mounting over the long-threatened invasion of Rafah, a crucial distribution hub for 1.3 million Palestinians sheltering in the region. Israel recently took control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing with Egypt. Israeli forces have not said when they will reopen it.

As entrance into Rafah becomes more difficult, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees warns that supplies are running out. The agency said it will have to start rationing supplies within days, which could risk its operations.

2.3 million people face food shortages amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and a famine setting in northern Gaza. The need for aid in the region is urgent.

Tags: food, Foreign aid, Gaza, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Joe Biden, Military Aid, Palestine, U.S. military, United States, War

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE FIRST AID SHIP IS ON ITS WAY TO AN AMERICAN-BUILT FLOATING PIER BEING INSTALLED IN GAZA AMID A WORSENING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

AS THE SHIP SET SAIL FROM CYPRUS QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT HOW THE AID WILL BE DISTRIBUTED.

THE U-S MILITARY HAS YET TO FINALIZE INSTALLATION OF THE PIER, LEADING TO UNCERTAINTY REGARDING PROTOCOLS FOR DELIVERIES.

THE NEED FOR FOOD IS IMMENSE IN GAZA–

MUCH OF THE REGION’S POPULATION OF 2.3 MILLION FACE FOOD SHORTAGES AS THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR CONTINUES AND A FAMINE GRIPS MUCH OF NORTHERN GAZA.

BIDEN ANNOUNCED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PIER TWO MONTHS AGO.

A PENTAGON SPOKESPERSON SAID THURSDAY PARTS OF THE PIER STILL NEED TO BE TRANSPORTED, AS THEY WAIT FOR THE SEA TO CALM.

HE SAYS ONCE IN POSITION, THE VESSEL CARRYING HUMANITARIAN AID, WILL TRANSFER AID

WHICH WILL BE LOADED ONTO TRUCKS THAT WILL TAKE THE CARGO TO THE BEACH TO BE UNLOADED BY ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES. U-S DEFENSE OFFICIALS MAINTAIN NO U-S FORCES WILL SET FOOT ON THE GROUND.

THE PIER IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER.

WITH GAZA’S TWO MAIN LAND CROSSING FOR HUMANITARIAN AID INACCESSIBLE.

HUMANITARIAN WORKERS ARE ALSO FEARFUL OF A THREATENED INVASION OF RAFAH.

THE CITY IS A MAIN DISTRIBUTION POINT FOR AID AND WHERE 1.3 MILLION PALESTINIANS ARE STAYING.

ISRAEL TOOK CONTROL OF THE GAZA SIDE OF THE RAFAH CROSSING WITH EGYPT TUESDAY.

IT’S NOT CLEAR WHEN IT WILL OPEN AGAIN.

THE U-N AGENCY FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEES ANNOUNCED IT HAS ENOUGH SUPPLY TO KEEP UP OPERATIONS UP FOR ONLY A FEW DAYS BEFORE RATIONING BEGINS.

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