United States: The United States has announced it will soon cease operations from its pier aimed at boosting humanitarian aid into Gaza amid the ongoing conflict in Israel.
Since its first installation in mid-May, the $230 million pier has been regularly disconnected from the coast due to weather, and the project has also encountered issues with the distribution of aid because of conditions onshore.
“I do anticipate that in relatively short order, we will wind down pier operations,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters.
Pentagon spokesman Major-General Pat Ryder said in a statement that “the pier will soon cease operations, with more details on that process and timing available in the coming days”.
According to a UN estimate, one in five Palestinians, or over 495,000 people, fear famine as a result of Israel’s nine-month war on the enclave, while 96 percent of Gaza’s population experiences food insecurity.
Since it began operations in May, the 370-meter (1,200-foot) floating pier has transported 8,100 metric tonnes of relief to a marshalling area on Gaza’s shore. However, inclement weather has forced the pier to be evacuated several times.
According to Sullivan, the pier assisted in delivering much-needed food and other goods to Gaza; however, more supplies are now entering the Palestinian enclave by land routes.
After experiencing problems due to weather and technical difficulties, military forces attempted but were unable, to re-anchor the makeshift Gaza pier to the beach on Wednesday.
Security concerns have also hindered the project, forcing humanitarian organizations to stop supplying food and other supplies to Gaza.
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