A convoy of three ships has set sail from Cyprus’s Larnaca Port to the Gaza Strip, carrying nearly 400 tonnes of food and other essential supplies. This humanitarian mission is a response to the ongoing war in the region, which has led to a dire situation where people are dying from hunger.
The aid, which departed on Saturday, will be transported to Gaza by a cargo ship and a platform towed by a salvage vessel. This shipment is a crucial lifeline for the people of Gaza, as several NGOs and rights organizations have accused Israel of deliberately blocking aid to the region, leading to warnings of an imminent famine.
Among the items being transported are ready-to-eat items such as rice, pasta, flour, legumes, canned vegetables, and proteins, which are enough to prepare over one million meals. The shipment also includes dates, traditionally eaten to break the daily fast during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
Previously, an aid ship operated by the Spanish NGO Open Arms delivered 200 tonnes of food aid, which was distributed by the World Central Kitchen (WCK). During that mission, a makeshift jetty was constructed from rubble to enable offloading in the enclave, which does not have any port facilities.
The mission was mainly financed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and received the support of the Cypriot authorities. In addition to the food aid, the dispatch includes two forklifts and a crane to assist with future marine deliveries.
Separately, the United States plans to construct a floating pier off Gaza to receive aid. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said that the target completion date is May 1, but it could be ready by around April 15.
Israel’s war on Gaza has displaced more than 80 percent of Gaza’s population and pushed hundreds of thousands to the brink of famine, according to the United Nations and international aid agencies. Despite the UN Security Council’s demand for a ceasefire, Israel’s military has continued to attack dozens of targets in Gaza.
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Original from www.aljazeera.com