Change color of text final cut pro4/17/2024 The only Gaza port is not suitable as it is too shallow, but a temporary structure that enables ships to dock off-shore in deep water, and offload onto either smaller vessels or vehicles, might offer a workable option. Aid can be transported in bulk via large ships, but needs a deep-water port to enable the aid to be offloaded. Separately, Joe Biden used his State of the Union Address to announce the US would help build a port in Gaza to deliver aid to people starving in the enclave. However, it is not clear at this stage who will provide the security required to ensure the aid is distributed in an orderly manner, and to those who need it most. The ship has a 5m draft, and could be small enough to operate via the Gaza fishing port, which will make the logistics of unloading the vessel significantly simpler. The ship can carry 200 pallets of supplies and is capable of making the return journey from Cyprus (a 400-mile round trip) on a daily basis. The Open Arms ship arrived in Cyprus three weeks ago and is ready to open the proposed Cyprus Humanitarian Aid Corridor. The ship, belonging to Spain's Open Arms charity, will make a pilot voyage to test the recently announced maritime corridor. Meanwhile, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has announced that a ship carrying humanitarian aid will head to Gaza today. There is no shortage of international commitment to provide aid, and there is a clear need, but getting the aid across the border into Gaza has proved problematic at best. However, Ashdod is in Israel - around 20 miles north of Gaza - so even if aid was to flow into that port, it would still be subject to the Israeli security checks and delays before entering Gaza. Their capability is also a fraction of what should be able to be delivered by road.Īs the humanitarian situation worsens in Gaza and pressure builds for more aid to enter the enclave, the British foreign secretary has urged Israel to "confirm that they'll open the port at Ashdod". Airdrops have gained pace but they are expensive and inefficient. Road deliveries are all but impossible due to military operations, insecurity and extensive restrictions. Using a temporary port shows the difficulties faced getting aid in by road. US President Joe Biden also said on Friday that Israel will provide security for the temporary port being built on Gaza's Mediterranean coast. This compares to the 124,000 meals delivered by the US military in four airdrops in the past week. Once it's operational, the US hopes it will help bring two million meals to Gazans daily. Up to 1,000 US troops could be involved but they will not come ashore - even temporarily to anchor the dock to the beach, said Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder. Later this was clarified to being "likely up to 60 days" to complete. The port will take "several weeks" to plan and build. The Pentagon has also given more details about the temporary port planned by the US, which is aimed at alleviating food shortages in Gaza. The corridor is being launched by the European Union along with the US, United Arab Emirates and others. Israel said on Friday that it welcomes the maritime corridor but the ships using it will still need "a security check according to Israeli standards". The ship has been waiting in Larnaca for permission to deliver food from World Central Kitchen, a US charity founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres. "I don't know if nations plan to do something bigger, but we are doing everything we can" with the group's €3m budget from private donations, he added. The aid group has been planning the delivery for two months, long before the EU announced the safe corridor, Mr Camps said. Pontoon boats will then be used to get the barge to the pier for unloading. The ship is seen at Larnaca in Cyprus on Friday night, where it is being prepared to pull a barge loaded with 200 tonnes of rice and flour, according to The Associated Press. Open Arms founder Oscar Camps said the ship is expected to depart on Saturday and will take two or three days to arrive in Gaza - although its exact arrival point has not been disclosed. This is a photo of the vessel belonging to Spain's Open Arms aid group that will make a pilot voyage this weekend to test a sea corridor for delivering aid to Gaza.
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