Staff Reports
The United States' pier off Gaza's coast, designed to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave, is set to become operational again soon. Constructed by U.S. Central Command, the pier was initially operational on May 17 but sustained damage from severe weather less than two weeks later. Despite this setback, defense officials reported a successful aid delivery during the pier's first week. Vice Adm. Brad Cooper confirmed that the temporary pier had been successfully reattached to Gaza's beach, with plans to resume sea-based humanitarian assistance deliveries in the coming days.
The pier, part of the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore capability, was installed by U.S. Army soldiers and U.S. Navy sailors, with support from the Israeli Defense Forces. Before it was damaged, the pier facilitated the delivery of approximately 2 million pounds of aid into Gaza. The U.S. military plans to initially deliver about 500,000 pounds of aid daily, with intentions to increase this amount over time.
Aid destined for Gaza is screened in Cyprus before being transported to the enclave. The pier acts as a point where aid can be offloaded onto smaller vessels capable of reaching the coast, from where it is transported into Gaza for distribution. President Joe Biden announced the pier's construction as a means to provide additional aid to Gaza, with the Pentagon estimating an initial cost of around $320 million.
Sonali Korde from USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance noted that all of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents are facing acute food insecurity. While the pier facilitates aid delivery to Gaza, the distribution within the strip is managed by the United Nations and other non-profits. However, the complex battlefield conditions and the desperation of Palestinian civilians pose challenges to effective aid distribution.
This news underscores the United States' efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, despite obstacles like weather-related damage to the pier. These initiatives reflect the U.S.'s compassion, generosity, and commitment to supporting vulnerable populations worldwide.
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