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More than 3 weeks after the arrival of the “Open Arms” ship to Cyprus, which is a joint mission between the “Open Arms” organizations and “World Central Kitchen”, the ship arrived this Friday morning near the shores of Gaza City coming from the Cypriot port of Larnaca. It is carrying 200 tons of food, and the ship stopped off the new pier that is being constructed on the coast of the Al-Baidar area, southwest of the city, in the north of the Strip.

In a very complex mission, the two non-governmental organizations aim for this humanitarian sea corridor to the besieged Strip to open the way for humanitarian aid and expand its scope to help Palestinians suffering from deadly famine.

With the intensification of the threat of famine threatening the residents of Gaza and the absence of the minimum requirements for food and water, at least 10 children have died from hunger in recent days, according to the United Nations World Health Organization.

The Open Arms ship sailed towards Gaza carrying 200 tons of food (Open Arms Organization)

Challenges

“The first talks about the mission began two months ago between José Andres of the World Central Kitchen charity and the director of our organization Oscar Gomez after Israel approved this humanitarian sea corridor in December,” explained Laura Lanuza, spokeswoman for the Spanish organization Open Arms. the past".

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Lanuza added that one of the most difficult challenges they faced was the technical aspect due to the lack of a port on the coast of the Strip because the port of Gaza City was destroyed several years ago, so standing on the beach is the only solution available to them, so they added a floating platform that they pull from the boat.

Lanuza pointed out that “complex” talks took place between the government of Cyprus, the Palestinian embassy, ​​and the Israeli Kogod Center before approving the project.

For her part, Chloe Mata from the World Central Kitchen organization revealed to Al Jazeera Net that about 300 tons of humanitarian food aid are being prepared for the second sailing to Gaza, noting that the departure date from Larnaca port is not yet known.

Israel inspected all goods and food before shipping them onto the floating ship (Open Arms organization)

to caution

Chloe Mata from the World Central Kitchen organization indicated that the Israeli side approved the entire process, reviewed it, and examined all goods and foodstuffs before they were shipped on the floating ship, and the boat was completely inspected in the port of Larnaca in Cyprus.

The food aid shipment, which contains enough food for about half a million meals, is expected to reach the World Central Kitchen organization, which has been in the Gaza Strip for months, and will be immediately distributed to more than 60 kitchens affiliated with the organization.

Laura Lanuza, spokeswoman for Open Arms, said: “When we sailed on Tuesday, we were given all guarantees for the success of the operation and I hope that the trip will take place without any problems, so we are careful in the information that we announce now until the boat arrives and the aid is distributed mainly.” Of flour, rice, canned vegetables and tuna fish.

Chloe Mata pointed out that the World Central Kitchen has been calling for opening more access points to Gaza for aid since last October, explaining that more than 35 million meals have been provided and more than 1,400 trucks have been sent through the Rafah crossing.

She added, "We will provide food for the airdrops that the Jordanians plan every day during the holy month of Ramadan, and we aim to establish a fast sea route for boats loaded with millions of meals on an ongoing basis towards Gaza."

This mission was carried out on a special initiative between the two non-governmental organizations in cooperation with the government of Cyprus, and they did not receive any funding from European Union countries, according to Lanuza.

About 300 tons of humanitarian food aid are being prepared for the second sailing to Gaza (Open Arms)

Imminent danger

Yesterday, Thursday, members of the European Parliament called on Israel to allow facilitating the delivery of aid through all empty crossing points, in a resolution that was adopted by a majority of 372 votes to 44, with 120 members abstaining from voting.

The members of Parliament stressed the need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to avoid the imminent danger of mass starvation in the besieged Strip, while calling for the unconditional release of all detainees.

They also welcomed sea aid corridors for Gaza, stressing that distribution by land must remain a priority.

To highlight the spread of disease and confirmed child deaths due to malnutrition and dehydration, MEPs are urging the Israeli authorities to open the Rafah, Kerem Shalom and Beit Hanoun crossings.

The representatives condemned the escalation of violence committed by extremist settlers and the attacks launched by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinians in the West Bank, which led to the death of hundreds of civilians and the injury of thousands.

They also strongly criticized the accelerating pace of illegal colonization of the Palestinian territories, which constitutes a violation of international law, expressing their concern about the risk of escalation of the conflict, especially in Lebanon.

Source: Al Jazeera