United States: According to the Pentagon, US forces have begun building a port and causeway off the coast of Gaza. The port and causeway will establish a maritime corridor to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza.
A statement from the Pentagon’s press secretary, Major General Patrick Ryder, regarding the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, or JLOTS floating pier delivery system, said that, “I can confirm that U.S. military vessels, to include the USNS Benavidez, have begun to construct the initial stages of the temporary pier and causeway at sea. We are aware of the significant interest in this important effort and will provide much more information in the very near future as we work alongside the international community to rush aid to the people of Gaza.”
According to the Pentagon, a new pier being built off the coast of Gaza will complement the current land intersections and could deliver up to 2 million meals per day to Gaza. The reports say that construction is already being initiated on the land site where the causeway will be moored, permitting trucks loaded with assistance to access Gaza.
The US Navy Ship (USNS) Roy Benavidez is currently working off the coast of Gaza and commenced constructing the afloat platform that will be utilised to unload stockpiles from civilian cargo ships. Additional vessels that will sustain the afloat dock are presently on their way to Gaza from Crete, Greece, where they were docked after creating a trans-Atlantic journey to the eastern Mediterranean.
A high-ranking official from the US military announced that the building of the JLOTS dock platform was formed a few miles off the coast of Gaza. The official remarked that they are currently on schedule to commence the delivery of humanitarian aid from the sea in early May.
The JLOTS pier is foreseen to operate around 90 trucks per day and can quickly grow its ability to 150 trucks worth of aid. The official stressed that this upsurge in aid delivery through the sea would remarkably improve the probability of saving lives. The objective is for aid agencies to cart humanitarian services to the JLOTS platform and floating causeway after being strained, palletised, and scheduled for delivery in Cyprus, which is 200 miles away from Gaza.
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