By Litty Simon
03/30/24
AFP
A convoy of three ships departed from Cyprus headed for Gaza on Saturday, carrying 400 tons of food and various supplies. This marks the second such delivery recently, underscoring mounting concerns about the looming threat of famine in the region.
The initial ship carrying aid arrived at the shores of Gaza on March 16, and the organization has pledged to continue providing further assistance. Organized by World Central Kitchen (WCK), the aid deliveries consist of ready-to-eat items such as rice, pasta, flour, legumes, canned vegetables, and proteins.
According to The Associated Press, these supplies are capable of preparing more than 1 million meals. The shipment also included dates, which hold traditional significance as they are typically consumed to break the daily fast during Ramadan. Ramadan is expected to conclude on April 8.
The convoy marks the second shipment organized by WCK and its founder, celebrity chef José Andrés.
The United Nations and its partners have sounded the alarm, cautioning that famine could emerge in the devastated and largely cut-off northern Gaza region as early as this month. Humanitarian officials stress that current deliveries by sea and air are inadequate, emphasizing the critical necessity for Israel to allow a much larger volume of aid to pass through land routes. In response to the worsening humanitarian crisis, the top U.N. court has mandated Israel to open more land crossings and undertake other actions to alleviate the situation.
During an airdrop operation on Friday, the U.S. military announced that it had delivered more than 100,000 pounds of aid on that day alone, contributing to a total of nearly a million pounds released overall. This effort is part of a collaborative initiative involving multiple countries.
The US State Department announced on Friday, a day after the world's top court ordered Israel to allow food aid into the territory, that famine is likely already present in at least some areas of northern Gaza, with other regions at risk of falling into conditions of starvation. "While we can assert with confidence that famine is a significant risk in the south and center but not present, in the north, it is both a risk and quite possibly is present in at least some areas," a State Department official had informed Reuters.
Despite Israeli claims that it is facilitating sufficient access to food and other aid into Gaza, the comments from Washington suggest a different perspective.
Meanwhile, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stated that the "famine" in Gaza could be swiftly achieved if Israel were to open the land crossings for aid to enter.
Currently, aid enters the Strip following inspections by Israeli authorities at Egypt's Rafah crossing, Israel's Kerem Shalom crossing, and a recently established crossing near the southern community of Be'eri, reported Times of Israel.
The recent famine warnings coincide with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approval of new discussions on a ceasefire in Gaza. Despite this, heavy fighting persists in the strip, including clashes occurring at several hospitals.
03/30/24
AFP
A convoy of three ships departed from Cyprus headed for Gaza on Saturday, carrying 400 tons of food and various supplies. This marks the second such delivery recently, underscoring mounting concerns about the looming threat of famine in the region.
The initial ship carrying aid arrived at the shores of Gaza on March 16, and the organization has pledged to continue providing further assistance. Organized by World Central Kitchen (WCK), the aid deliveries consist of ready-to-eat items such as rice, pasta, flour, legumes, canned vegetables, and proteins.
According to The Associated Press, these supplies are capable of preparing more than 1 million meals. The shipment also included dates, which hold traditional significance as they are typically consumed to break the daily fast during Ramadan. Ramadan is expected to conclude on April 8.
The convoy marks the second shipment organized by WCK and its founder, celebrity chef José Andrés.
The United Nations and its partners have sounded the alarm, cautioning that famine could emerge in the devastated and largely cut-off northern Gaza region as early as this month. Humanitarian officials stress that current deliveries by sea and air are inadequate, emphasizing the critical necessity for Israel to allow a much larger volume of aid to pass through land routes. In response to the worsening humanitarian crisis, the top U.N. court has mandated Israel to open more land crossings and undertake other actions to alleviate the situation.
During an airdrop operation on Friday, the U.S. military announced that it had delivered more than 100,000 pounds of aid on that day alone, contributing to a total of nearly a million pounds released overall. This effort is part of a collaborative initiative involving multiple countries.
The US State Department announced on Friday, a day after the world's top court ordered Israel to allow food aid into the territory, that famine is likely already present in at least some areas of northern Gaza, with other regions at risk of falling into conditions of starvation. "While we can assert with confidence that famine is a significant risk in the south and center but not present, in the north, it is both a risk and quite possibly is present in at least some areas," a State Department official had informed Reuters.
Despite Israeli claims that it is facilitating sufficient access to food and other aid into Gaza, the comments from Washington suggest a different perspective.
Meanwhile, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stated that the "famine" in Gaza could be swiftly achieved if Israel were to open the land crossings for aid to enter.
Currently, aid enters the Strip following inspections by Israeli authorities at Egypt's Rafah crossing, Israel's Kerem Shalom crossing, and a recently established crossing near the southern community of Be'eri, reported Times of Israel.
The recent famine warnings coincide with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approval of new discussions on a ceasefire in Gaza. Despite this, heavy fighting persists in the strip, including clashes occurring at several hospitals.
Libyan aid ship departs Misrata for Gaza
March 30, 2024
Palestinian children get food to the bowls makeshift tent set up near the border of Egypt as Israeli attacks continue in Rafah, Gaza on March 08, 2024. Jehad Alshrafi – Anadolu Agency]
The International Campaign to Save Gaza on Friday announced the departure of a Libyan aid ship from the port of Misrata, bound for Gaza. The vessel sets sail with approximately 1,600 tons of essential relief supplies. These provisions, including medicines, tents, blankets, winter clothing, and foodstuffs, were generously contributed by civil society organisations across several cities in Libya. Over the past three months, these donations were collected as part of a concerted effort coordinated by the Libyan Humanitarian Relief Campaign, aimed at supporting Gaza.
The aid ship is expected to reach the Egyptian port of Al-Arish by Wednesday, 3rd April, where the cargo will be transferred to Gaza via the Rafah border crossing. Coordination between the Libyan Red Crescent and its Egyptian counterpart has been arranged to ensure the seamless unloading and transportation of the aid from Al-Arish to Rafah, onward to the Gaza Strip. Miles of Smiles, representing the International Campaign to Save Gaza and commissioned by the Libyan Relief Campaign, will oversee all necessary procedures with the Egyptian authorities in Cairo and Al-Arish to expedite the aid delivery.
Initiated by the International Campaign to Save Gaza, with support from the International Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Libyan aid ship campaign commenced in late December. Local coordination was overseen by activists and representatives from civil society institutions and charitable organisations across Tripoli, Misrata, Zliten, Masalata, Al-Zawiya and beyond. The campaign received backing from the Municipality of Misrata and the newly formed Committee to Support the Palestinian Cause, established by the Libyan Supreme Council of State.
Dr Omar Baara, General Coordinator of the Libyan Relief Campaign to Support Gaza, emphasised the deep-rooted solidarity of the Libyan people, both within their institutions and across popular platforms, towards the Palestinian cause. He underscored their unwavering readiness to provide support to their brethren in Gaza, emphasising that the Libyan populace perceives the Palestinian struggle as their own, driven by a sense of religious and humanitarian duty. He stressed the enduring nature of the Libyan aid campaign, considering it a tangible manifestation of the fraternal ties binding Libya to Palestine, particularly to Gaza.
For his part, Zaher Birawi, Coordinator of the International Campaign to Save Gaza, expressed optimism regarding the expeditious delivery of aid to Gaza, highlighting its potential to bolster the steadfastness of the Gazan populace and provide them with essential necessities. He underscored the significance of these grassroots initiatives as integral facets of the collective responsibility owed to the people of Gaza, who sacrifice immensely in defence of their nation’s honour and sanctity. Birawi emphasised the profound global resonance of the Palestinian cause, noting the universal attachment of people worldwide to Palestine and Jerusalem. He saluted Gaza as an emblem of resilience in the face of adversities posed by the Zionist settlement agenda.
Furthermore, Birawi announced the imminent departure of another aid ship from Lebanon, a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Lebanese National Committee for the Aid Ship in conjunction with the Algerian Initiative for the Support of Palestine and Gaza Relief. He disclosed that preparations are underway to ensure the swift departure of this ship before the culmination of the holy month of Ramadan.
March 30, 2024
Palestinian children get food to the bowls makeshift tent set up near the border of Egypt as Israeli attacks continue in Rafah, Gaza on March 08, 2024. Jehad Alshrafi – Anadolu Agency]
The International Campaign to Save Gaza on Friday announced the departure of a Libyan aid ship from the port of Misrata, bound for Gaza. The vessel sets sail with approximately 1,600 tons of essential relief supplies. These provisions, including medicines, tents, blankets, winter clothing, and foodstuffs, were generously contributed by civil society organisations across several cities in Libya. Over the past three months, these donations were collected as part of a concerted effort coordinated by the Libyan Humanitarian Relief Campaign, aimed at supporting Gaza.
The aid ship is expected to reach the Egyptian port of Al-Arish by Wednesday, 3rd April, where the cargo will be transferred to Gaza via the Rafah border crossing. Coordination between the Libyan Red Crescent and its Egyptian counterpart has been arranged to ensure the seamless unloading and transportation of the aid from Al-Arish to Rafah, onward to the Gaza Strip. Miles of Smiles, representing the International Campaign to Save Gaza and commissioned by the Libyan Relief Campaign, will oversee all necessary procedures with the Egyptian authorities in Cairo and Al-Arish to expedite the aid delivery.
Initiated by the International Campaign to Save Gaza, with support from the International Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Libyan aid ship campaign commenced in late December. Local coordination was overseen by activists and representatives from civil society institutions and charitable organisations across Tripoli, Misrata, Zliten, Masalata, Al-Zawiya and beyond. The campaign received backing from the Municipality of Misrata and the newly formed Committee to Support the Palestinian Cause, established by the Libyan Supreme Council of State.
Dr Omar Baara, General Coordinator of the Libyan Relief Campaign to Support Gaza, emphasised the deep-rooted solidarity of the Libyan people, both within their institutions and across popular platforms, towards the Palestinian cause. He underscored their unwavering readiness to provide support to their brethren in Gaza, emphasising that the Libyan populace perceives the Palestinian struggle as their own, driven by a sense of religious and humanitarian duty. He stressed the enduring nature of the Libyan aid campaign, considering it a tangible manifestation of the fraternal ties binding Libya to Palestine, particularly to Gaza.
For his part, Zaher Birawi, Coordinator of the International Campaign to Save Gaza, expressed optimism regarding the expeditious delivery of aid to Gaza, highlighting its potential to bolster the steadfastness of the Gazan populace and provide them with essential necessities. He underscored the significance of these grassroots initiatives as integral facets of the collective responsibility owed to the people of Gaza, who sacrifice immensely in defence of their nation’s honour and sanctity. Birawi emphasised the profound global resonance of the Palestinian cause, noting the universal attachment of people worldwide to Palestine and Jerusalem. He saluted Gaza as an emblem of resilience in the face of adversities posed by the Zionist settlement agenda.
Furthermore, Birawi announced the imminent departure of another aid ship from Lebanon, a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Lebanese National Committee for the Aid Ship in conjunction with the Algerian Initiative for the Support of Palestine and Gaza Relief. He disclosed that preparations are underway to ensure the swift departure of this ship before the culmination of the holy month of Ramadan.
Three ships carrying aid to Gaza from Cyprus expected on Monday
A freighter and two smaller ships carrying hundreds of tons of aid to the Gaza Strip from Cyprus were proceeding in calm seas without incident, Cypriot government representatives told dpa on Sunday.
Cypriot radio reported that the freighter Jennifer and the tugboats Open Arms and Ledra Dynamic were expected to arrive off the war zone's coast on Monday afternoon.
Discharging the freight is expected to be problematic. A temporary pier has been erected, and one of the tugboats is towing a platform loaded with relief supplies, with the intention of using it to transfer the supplies to the pier.
There is no suitable port along the Gaza Strip, and the sea is shallow.
This is the second aid delivery by sea from Cyprus. Around a fortnight ago, the tugboat from the aid organization of the same name, Open Arms, brought around 200 tons of material and food to the Gaza Strip.
The non-governmental organization (NGO) World Central Kitchen was responsible for distributing the relief supplies to the people – and that is the plan this time as well.
The government of Cyprus is awaiting completion of a large floating dock off the Gaza Strip coast by mid-April.
"The aim is to send an increasing amount of goods with each of these voyages, but this will only take place once the platform provided by the Americans is complete," Cypriot Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kombos told national radio after the ships sailed from Larnaca on Saturday.
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