By Manal Abdel Fattah
The U.S. Embassy in Cairo announced today that USAID is working with the U.S. Department of Defense to establish a sea corridor to enhance — not replace — ongoing efforts to expand the delivery of humanitarian aid by land.
She added, in a statement, that the purpose of this sea corridor is to help humanitarian organizations provide assistance independently, impartially and impartially.
To support the USAID-led humanitarian operation, the Department of Defense is building a temporary jetty in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Gaza to enable humanitarian partners to increase the amount of life-saving aid reaching Gazans.
Today, at approximately 7:40 a.m. (Gaza time), Ministry of Defense personnel supporting the humanitarian mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians installed the temporary pier on the beach in Gaza.
As part of this effort, no US forces entered Gaza.
Trucks carrying humanitarian aid are expected to begin moving to the beach in the coming days.
The United Nations will receive the aid and coordinate its distribution in Gaza.
Humanitarian goods from the United States and other countries are currently arriving in Cyprus, where they are examined by Israeli authorities and loaded onto ships for delivery via the sea corridor.
We expect further assistance from additional countries and organizations that are using the sea corridor and steadily expanding it soon after it becomes operational.
Operational talks on the distribution network inside Gaza that supports the effectiveness of the sea corridor continue with the humanitarian community, including the United Nations, to ensure the safe and sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
It is a complex humanitarian aid mission that requires ongoing coordination among many partners, and they are continuing to do so. The ability of humanitarian actors to deliver and distribute humanitarian assistance safely is essential in this and every humanitarian response. We are committed to continuing to advocate for measures that will give humanitarian workers greater assurances as they deliver aid to people in need – whether that aid arrives by sea or land.
We continue to work to ensure life-saving aid reaches civilians in need by all means – by land, sea and air.