US ends aid ferry mission in Gaza

The port, announced by President Joe Biden in March, is a massive project involving about 1,000 US troops. Aid began flowing through the port to Gaza in May to help stave off famine after months of war between Israel and Hamas.

A truck carrying humanitarian aid passes through Trident Dock, a temporary dock for delivering aid, off the coast of the Gaza Strip, June 25, 2024. Photo: REUTERS

However, poor weather and distribution challenges inside Gaza limited the effectiveness of the mission, with the port operating for only about 20 days.

"We have accomplished the mission with the floating dock. There is no need to use the dock anymore," US Navy Vice Admiral Brad Cooper said at a press conference.

Mr Cooper said the delivery of aid to Gaza by sea would shift to the established Israeli port of Ashdod. At least 2.2 million kilograms of aid currently in Cyprus or on ships would be transferred to Ashdod in the coming days.

Mr Cooper said the cost of the dock is estimated to be less than the $230 million the Pentagon initially estimated. The 370-metre floating dock has been moved several times due to bad weather and has not been used since June.

The United Nations World Food Programme also suspended operations at the port in June due to security concerns, causing aid to back up on Gaza's shores.

The United Nations has long argued that sea deliveries are no substitute for land access. It said it needed to increase aid on land routes to the Gaza Strip, which is facing a growing famine.

Aid officials say about 600 trucks of humanitarian and commercial aid are needed every day to meet the needs of Gaza's people.

Cao Phong (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/my-ket-thuc-su-menh-cau-tau-vien-tro-o-gaza-post303914.html