GAZA CITY: A US charity said on Saturday that its team had completed unloading the first maritime aid shipment to reach the war-torn Gaza Strip.
World Central Kitchen stated, “All cargo has been offloaded and is being prepared for distribution in Gaza,” highlighting that the aid consisted of “nearly 200 tonnes of food.”
The organization is now preparing a second boat carrying 240 tonnes of food to depart from Cyprus, marking the beginning of a new maritime aid route through the eastern Mediterranean.
This humanitarian effort aims to alleviate food shortages that have led to UN famine warnings in Gaza from the United Nations and aid workers.
The shipment includes various food items such as canned goods, beans, carrots, tuna, chickpeas, corn, rice, flour, oil, and salt, packed in pallets and bulk quantities.
Additionally, the second shipment will be equipped with a forklift and crane to facilitate deliveries, as per World Central Kitchen’s announcement.
However, the organization did not provide specific details about the departure of the second boat and the crew ship.
The Israeli military confirmed on Friday the arrival of the first vessel operated by the Spanish charity Open Arms. They stated that soldiers were deployed to secure the area and conduct security inspections.
As overland aid delivery to Gaza faces challenges such as Israeli security checks and logistical issues, countries have explored alternatives like airdrops and the newly established maritime corridor.
Jose Andres, the founder of World Central Kitchen, mentioned on the social media platform X that the first shipment was a test, indicating the potential for delivering thousands of tonnes of aid weekly.
