EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in Cyprus today, Friday, to observe preparations to send aid to war-ravaged Gaza by sea.
This comes just hours after US President Joe Biden announced that the military will set up a temporary port off Gaza's Mediterranean coast to support deliveries.
Efforts to dramatically ramp up aid deliveries signaled growing frustration with Israel's conduct in the war in the United States and Europe.
Efforts to set up a sea route for aid deliveries come amid mounting alarm over the spread of hunger among Gaza's 2.3 million people.
Hunger is most acute in northern Gaza, which has been isolated by Israeli forces for months and suffered long delays in food deliveries.
Risk of famine
After months of warnings over the risk of famine in Gaza because of Israel’s bombardment, offensives and siege, hospital doctors have reported 20 malnutrition-related deaths at two northern Gaza hospitals.
While reiterating his support for Israel, Biden used his State of the Union speech to reiterate demands that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allow more aid to Gaza.
“To the leadership of Israel, I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip,” Biden declared before Congress. He also repeated calls for Israel to do more to protect civilians in the fighting, and to work toward Palestinian statehood as the only long-term solution to Israeli-Palestinian violence.
US officials said it will likely be weeks before the Gaza pier is operational.
Officials from the US, Europe, Israel and the Middle East were already deep in discussions and preparations for a maritime aid route.
Ramadan
Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Union's powerful executive arm, arrived in Cyprus late Thursday to inspect facilities at the port of Larnaca, where aid ships are expected to depart for Gaza.
Europe is financing a major humanitarian aid effort for Palestinians.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 8, 2024
€250 million euros this year alone.
But the key challenge is getting this aid to people in Gaza.
This is why we’re launching the Cyprus Maritime Corridor, with the US and UAE ↓ https://t.co/mrNBl9WsHb
In November, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides offered the use of the port, which is a 370-kilometer journey from Gaza.
It's unclear when the first ship will set sail, but it's believed it could happen as early as Sunday, the expected start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
A ship belonging to Spain's Open Arms NGO is moored at Larnaca waiting for permission to deliver food aid from World Central Kitchen, a US charity founded by celebrity chef José Andrés.
Aid groups have said their efforts to deliver desperately needed supplies to Gaza have been hampered because of the difficulty of coordinating with the Israeli military, the ongoing hostilities and the breakdown of public order. It is even more difficult to get aid to the isolated north.
EU Commission spokesman Balazs Ujvari said on Wednesday the bloc would consider air drops, but this would be a last resort and cannot replace ground access to the enclave.
French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this week posted a a message on social media showing large packages with French flags being dropped out of a plane, adding "Solidarity at work."
La solidarité à l’œuvre. pic.twitter.com/IgDsbq5rcO
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 5, 2024
Ujvari confirmed that the EU has so far carried out around 40 flights to deliver aid to Gaza, primarily through Egypt.
(With newswires)
