Early on Tuesday, a vessel loaded with nearly 200 tonnes of provisions for Gaza embarked from a Cypriot port, marking the initiation of a trial endeavour to establish a new maritime corridor for delivering aid to a population facing severe food scarcity.
The “Open Arms,” a vessel operated by a Spanish NGO of the same name, was observed departing from Larnaca port, Cyprus, hauling a barge filled with essential food supplies such as flour, rice, and protein.
The venture, primarily sponsored by the United Arab Emirates, is coordinated by the US-based World Central Kitchen (WCK) with the Spanish NGO providing the ship.
While the intended docking location in Gaza remains unspecified, the mission aims to create a “maritime highway” laden with food aid continuously directed towards Gaza, as articulated by WCK’s founder Jose Andres and CEO Erin Gore.
This initiative operates independently from a US proposal to build and manage a floating pier near Gaza’s coastline to expedite the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The effort seeks to directly convey assistance to Gaza, currently isolated since the onset of an Israeli offensive following an attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7.
Due to the absence of port facilities, WCK is in the process of constructing a landing jetty in Gaza using debris from demolished structures.
Furthermore, an additional 500 tonnes of aid accumulated in Cyprus is slated for dispatch to Gaza.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a ceasefire in Gaza to honor the holy month of Ramadan.
In a plea to the international community, Guterres highlighted the significance of Ramadan as a time when Muslims worldwide celebrate and spread values of peace, reconciliation, and solidarity.
Despite the commencement of Ramadan, Guterres lamented, violence continues unabated in Gaza, with ongoing killings, bombings, and massacres.
He also called for the release of hostages held by Hamas and the removal of barriers obstructing the rapid and broad delivery of life-saving aid to Gaza.
