For the first time, US ships humanitarian aid to Gaza via temporary pier

Gaza has received the first shipment of aid via a temporary pier designed to increase the flow of humanitarian assistance to the war-torn region.

Confirming the news, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said, “Today at approximately 9 a.m. (Gaza time), trucks carrying humanitarian assistance began moving ashore via a temporary pier in Gaza.”

The construction of the pier, which faced multiple logistical snags and is called a Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS), was completed on Thursday following which it was anchored to the beach in Gaza.

Sabrina Singh, Pentagon spokeswoman, told reporters that the US believes there will be no backups in the distribution of the aid, which is being coordinated by the United Nations.

The UN, however, said fuel imports have all but stopped and this will make it extremely difficult to deliver aid to Gaza’s people, all 2.3 million of whom are in acute need of food and other supplies after seven months of intense fighting between Israel and Hamas.

The pier project, expected to cost $320 million, was ordered more than two months ago by US President Joe Biden to help starving Palestinians as Israeli restrictions on border crossings and heavy fighting hinder food and other supplies from making it into Gaza.

However, it is not expected to become an alternative to cheaper deliveries via land which aid agencies believe is more sustainable. With this delivery, the transfer of aid via land, air and sea has been successfully explored.

The boatloads of aid will be deposited at a port facility built by the Israelis just southwest of Gaza City and then distributed by aid groups.

US officials said Thursday as much as 500 tons of food will begin arriving on the Gaza shore within days and that the US has closely coordinated with Israel on how to protect the ships and personnel working on the beach.

With inputs from agencies