A ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza departed from the port city of Larnaca in Cyprus, according to World Central Kitchen (WCK), a non-profit organization that said it was the first sea shipment of humanitarian aid to the territory surrounded by Israel. .
“After weeks of preparation, our team in Cyprus has loaded nearly 200 tonnes of food onto the Open Arms boat that will deliver desperately needed aid,” WCK said in a statement on Tuesday (12).
WCK said it partnered with the United Arab Emirates, Cyprus and Spanish NGO Open Arms to coordinate the shipment.
The 8:45 am (local time) departure comes after announcements that Cyprus, the European Commission, the United States, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom were working to establish a maritime corridor to deliver aid to Gaza.
The ship will tow a large barge packed with pallets of food aid, including rice, flour, beans, lentils and canned meats.
To transport the pallets to dry land, a temporary dock will be built at an undisclosed location in Gaza, although details of these efforts are unclear.
On Sunday, WCK founder Jose Andres said the pier will be built using material and infrastructure in Gaza with the help of ferries and amphibious vehicles. He said on plus a big cargo boat to reload.”
Israel placed Gaza under siege following Hamas attacks on October 7. He says there is “no limit” to the amount of aid that can enter Gaza, but humanitarian groups have repeatedly warned that restrictions on land crossings into the strip have constrained aid distribution efforts.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
