The U.S. military is planning to suspend operations to its temporary pier off Gaza on Friday, temporarily moving the structure to an Israeli port to ride out high seas and rough waves expected to hit the region in coming days, according to an official.
It’s the third time in a month that the structure has been deemed inoperable due to weather and the latest setback for the ambitious $230 million humanitarian project involving 1,000 US troops.
“We are doing everything we can to make it work,” the official said.
A truck carries humanitarian aid across Trident Pier, a temporary pier to deliver aid, off the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, near the Gaza coast, May 19, 2024.
U.S. Army Central via Reuters
The difficulties come as time is running out for the U.S. to make use of the pier, which was initially slated as a 90-day project that would likely lose its ability to transit aid at the end of August when heightened sea levels and more frequent storms would force military officials to take it down.
Announced by President Joe Biden in his State of the Union in March, the project was supposed to bring some 2 million meals a day into hunger-stricken Gaza while Israeli officials held up aid trucks at ground crossings, citing security concerns that some of the aid could reach Hamas.
A truck carries humanitarian aid across Trident Pier, a temporary pier to deliver aid, off the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, near the Gaza coast, May 19, 2024.
U.S. Army Central/Handout via Reuters
More than 2,500 metric tons of humanitarian aid have been delivered via the pier so far. But U.S. officials acknowledged that much of that aid hasn’t made it to its distribution points.
The U.N. said it suspended deliveries last week entirely due to nearby Israeli military operations that posed security concerns. The U.N. has not said when distribution might resume.
CNN first reported the U.S. military’s plans to move the pier to Ashdod on Friday. It will be the second time the pier has had to be relocated due to weather; the first time, the pier broke apart and had to be repaired. This time, the pier is being moved as a precautionary measure to prevent the temporary floating pier from breaking apart in bad weather.
The US humanitarian aid pier off Gaza is facing yet another setback as it is set to be out of operation for the third time in a month. This news comes as a blow to the thousands of Palestinians who rely on the aid that is delivered through this vital lifeline.
The pier, which is operated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), plays a crucial role in providing much-needed humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. It serves as a key entry point for food, medical supplies, and other essential goods that are desperately needed in the region.
The repeated closures of the pier have been attributed to a combination of factors, including ongoing conflicts in the region, bureaucratic hurdles, and logistical challenges. This has resulted in delays in the delivery of aid and has put additional strain on an already vulnerable population.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with high levels of poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity. The closure of the aid pier only exacerbates these challenges and further limits the access to essential resources for those in need.
In response to the latest closure, humanitarian organizations have expressed their concerns and called for urgent action to address the situation. They have emphasized the importance of keeping the aid pier operational and ensuring that humanitarian assistance continues to reach those who need it most.
It is clear that a long-term solution is needed to prevent these disruptions from occurring in the future. This will require cooperation and coordination among all stakeholders involved in delivering aid to Gaza, as well as a commitment to prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable populations.
As efforts are made to address the current challenges facing the US humanitarian aid pier off Gaza, it is crucial that the international community remains engaged and committed to supporting the people of Gaza in their time of need. Only through collective action and solidarity can we ensure that humanitarian assistance continues to reach those who need it most.
