Ship Delivers 1,200 Tonnes of Aid to Gaza Amid Crisis

Limassol, Cyprus - August 19 (AP): Departing from Cyprus, a ship carrying 1,200 tonnes of food supplies destined for the Gaza Strip approached the Israeli port of Ashdod on Tuesday, in a renewed attempt to alleviate the escalating crisis as famine looms over the Palestinian territory.

The Panamanian-flagged ship is laden with 52 containers filled with essential food aid, including pasta, rice, baby food, and canned goods.

Before departure on Monday, Israeli customs officials inspected the aid at the Cypriot port of Limassol.

Approximately 700 tonnes of the aid have been provided by Cyprus, funded by donations from the United Arab Emirates to the Amalthea Fund, established last year to facilitate seaborne aid donations.

The remaining aid has been contributed by Italy, the Maltese government, a Catholic religious order in Malta, and the Kuwaiti NGO Al Salam Association.

"The situation is beyond dire," stated Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos to The Associated Press.

Last year, Cyprus served as the staging ground for 22,000 tonnes of aid delivered directly to Gaza through a pier operated by the international charity World Central Kitchen and a U.S. military-run docking facility known as the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore system.

By late July 2024, aid organizations withdrew from the project due to recurring weather and security challenges that restricted the amount of food and emergency supplies reaching those in need.

The Cypriot Foreign Ministry announced that Tuesday's mission is led by the United Nations, representing a coordinated effort. Once unloaded at Ashdod, UN aid workers will manage the distribution of supplies to storage facilities and food stations operated by World Central Kitchen.

The charity, responsible for the inaugural aid shipment to Gaza from Cyprus last year aboard a tug-towed barge, is highly trusted in the beleaguered territory.

"The contribution of everyone involved is crucial, and their commitment is incredible," Kombos added.

Shipborne deliveries are capable of delivering drastically larger quantities of aid compared to recent air drops made by various nations into Gaza.

This shipment follows a day after Hamas announced its acceptance of a new ceasefire proposal from Arab mediators. However, Israel has yet to endorse the latest proposal.

Previously, Israel announced intentions to reoccupy Gaza City and other densely populated areas after ceasefire negotiations faltered last month, raising the potential for a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which experts warn is verging on famine.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin has dismissed reports of starvation in Gaza as "lies" propagated by Hamas. However, the UN warned last week that starvation and malnutrition in the Palestinian area are at their highest levels since the conflict began with the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and 251 people abducted by militants.

Gaza's Health Ministry, managed by the Hamas-run government and staffed with medical professionals, reported that the Palestinian death toll from 22 months of conflict has surpassed 62,000. It did not specify the number of civilian and combatant casualties but mentioned that women and children constitute approximately half of the deaths. (AP)

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