Officials from 36 countries and various United Nations agencies convened in Cyprus on Thursday to explore ways to accelerate the delivery of aid to the besieged Palestinians in Gaza through a newly established sea route initiated last week.
The meeting, held on Thursday, was attended by Sigrid Kaag, the U.N.’s senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, along with Curtis Ried, chief of staff of the U.S. National Security Council.
Amid the looming threat of famine in Gaza, humanitarian agencies are seeking alternative routes to facilitate aid delivery into the enclave, apart from relying solely on land crossings. However, the lack of infrastructure poses a significant challenge. Last week, one charity improvised a landing jetty using rubble, and the United States announced plans to construct a floating pier to address this issue.
As part of an agreement negotiated with Israel, cargoes can undergo security inspections in Cyprus by a joint team, including representatives from Israel. This arrangement eliminates the need for screenings at the final offloading point, thus reducing potential delays in aid distribution.
An initial vessel departed from Cyprus last week and successfully delivered aid in Gaza. Two more vessels are slated to depart in the coming days, pending favorable weather conditions.
Constantinos Kombos, Cyprus’s foreign minister, highlighted discussions centered on maximizing operational capacity in terms of departures and transportation means, as well as enhancing reception and distribution methodologies.
Furthermore, delegates explored the possibility of establishing a fund to coordinate operational activities related to the initiative. However, Kombos clarified that the meeting was not intended as a donor’s conference.
When questioned about the potential number of vessels departing from Cyprus once the initiative reaches full operational capacity, Kombos emphasized the goal of maximizing efficiency while acknowledging limitations in reception and distribution capacities. He emphasized the importance of ensuring a swift turnaround to optimize aid distribution efficiency.
