Gaza [Palestine], March 14: A new sea route is being tested while the US plans to set up a temporary port to increase aid supplies to the Gaza Strip, amid the risk of famine in this territory becoming increasingly serious.
Yesterday, a Spanish relief ship was on its way to Gaza, opening a new maritime corridor to provide food and supplies to residents of this territory. At the same time, the US launched a campaign to build a temporary port in Gaza waters to promote efforts to transport relief goods, while Morocco brought necessities to Gaza through Israeli territory.
Diversify transportation routes
According to Al Jazeera , the Open Arms ship of the non-governmental organization of the same name in Spain left the port of Larnaca in the Republic of Cyprus on March 12, towing a barge carrying about 200 tons of flour, rice and protein foods. The journey across the eastern Mediterranean is about 390 km long and the ship is expected to land in Gaza after 2 days.
This is a test voyage to test the maritime corridor that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides announced last week in an effort to bring more aid into Gaza. Cyprus also announced that a second ship is preparing to depart, according to AFP. Meanwhile, four US Army ships left their base in the state of Virginia on March 12, carrying about 100 soldiers and equipment to Gaza waters to build a temporary port to serve the transportation of rescue goods. support. AFP quoted US Army Major General Brad Hinson as saying that this temporary port will include maritime infrastructure to transfer goods from large ships to smaller ships and a wharf to bring goods to shore. The facility is expected to go into operation "after 60 days" with a total of 500 US soldiers participating in the campaign.
Also on March 12, a Moroccan diplomatic source revealed to AFP that the country transported 40 tons of relief goods to Israel's Ben Gurion airport. These goods were then handed over to the Palestinian Red Crescent Organization at the Kerem Shalom border crossing between Israel and Gaza. This is the first time this border gate has been used to bring relief goods into Gaza, according to Reuters. Since the conflict broke out, trucks carrying relief goods often enter Gaza through Egypt.
In addition, a UN official said that the World Food Program (WFP) used a new road route to transport aid to northern Gaza for the first time in three weeks, according to Reuters. This route, originally used by the Israeli army, runs along the border fence between Gaza and Israel.
Brink of famine
At least half a million people, or a quarter of the population in Gaza, are facing starvation while the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is taking place, according to Al Jazeera . Israel has blockaded all of Gaza since October 2023, thereby limiting the delivery of relief goods into this territory by road. Countries including Jordan and the United States have carried out airdrops of aid, but that strategy is unlikely to meet the needs of Gaza residents.
UN officials have welcomed the trial of the new maritime corridor, but have warned such efforts are not enough. "While people in northern Gaza are on the brink of famine, we need aid shipments every day," WFP wrote on social network X (formerly Twitter).
Gaza health authorities recently said 27 people died of malnutrition and dehydration in this territory, most of them children. Meanwhile, Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA (the UN's Palestinian refugee support agency), said that the number of children killed by fighting in Gaza so far is more than the total number of children killed in the wars. global conflict over the past 4 years.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
