Most of the 2.2 million residents of the Gaza Strip face the specter of famine (French)

The movement of the first aid ship that was to head yesterday, Sunday, from Cyprus to Gaza through a sea corridor that will be managed by the United States and the European Union, was disrupted.

The Spanish ship "Open Arms" is still anchored in the Cypriot port of Larnaca, after it was scheduled to set off on Sunday on its first sea voyage to transport aid to the Gaza Strip.

The ship carries tens of tons of food within a sea corridor that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced its activation during her visit to the port a few days ago.

The Cyprus News Agency quoted government spokesman Konstantinos Letimpiotis as saying that the ship is expected to leave “in the coming hours.”

On the other hand, Cyprus Radio said yesterday evening, Sunday, that it seems unlikely that the ship will leave the Cypriot port of Larnaca before Monday morning due to “technical problems.”

Laura Lanuza, spokeswoman for the Spanish non-governmental organization Open Arms participating in the project, explained that the Israeli authorities inspected the shipment on Saturday.

Lanuza said that her partner organization, World Central Kitchen, “has people in Gaza” and is working to “build a temporary dock” to be able to unload the goods when the ship arrives.

But delivering aid to those most in need remains a huge challenge in light of the battles, the ongoing Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip, and the famine from which most of the population suffers.

Challenges and criticisms

Yesterday, Sunday, the US Army announced the sending of a logistical ship carrying equipment, days after US President Joe Biden announced that his country would build a temporary dock to dock aid ships to the sector.

The American newspaper "The New York Times" quoted diplomats and relief officials as talking about "tremendous challenges" facing efforts to transport humanitarian aid to Gaza by sea.

The newspaper said that the construction of the floating port and shipping expenses would cost tens of millions of dollars over several months, noting that it is not clear who will undertake management and insurance.

Humanitarian work experts and officials in international organizations also criticized the American plan to establish this corridor, and said that it diverts attention from the real crisis in Gaza. UN bodies and humanitarian organizations also criticized the step of airdropping aid into the Gaza Strip, as they considered it limited in size, in addition to what it might cause. There is chaos in it.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies