Resumption of Humanitarian Aid Shipments to Gaza from Cyprus
In a significant development, officials have announced that humanitarian aid shipments to the Gaza Strip are expected to recommence shortly from Cyprus. This announcement comes after a temporary cessation of aid activities in the wake of a tragic incident where seven aid workers were fatally impacted by Israeli military actions on April 1.
Currently, Cyprus is housing approximately 1,000 tons of aid, which is earmarked for the people in Gaza who are facing extreme food shortages. The pause in operations was a decision made by the World Central Kitchen (WCK) as they took time to reassess their efforts in the region following the loss of their team members.
The United States has stepped forward with a plan to establish a docking facility along the Mediterranean coast of Gaza. This new development, with a target completion date of May 1, aims to facilitate the delivery of aid that will undergo preliminary screening in Cyprus under Israeli supervision.
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides expressed optimism about the resumption of aid, stating, “We are in communication with countries we have worked with from the outset, so that very soon humanitarian aid from Cyprus will resume after the completion of the U.S. project in Gaza.”
The urgency for aid in Gaza has been exacerbated by six months of intense conflict following an attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7. The resulting Israeli air and ground campaign has left the Palestinian enclave on the brink of famine and disease, with a vast majority of its population now without homes.
Before the halt, WCK had been actively involved in Gaza since October, utilizing various means including land, air, and more recently sea routes, to deliver aid and support over 60 community kitchens. The interruption occurred as workers were in the process of unloading a second shipment via the Cyprus route when their convoy came under Israeli strikes.
Following WCK’s announcement to pause their operations, a fleet of ships participating in the mission returned to Cyprus on April 3 with aid that could not be delivered. Initially kept at anchorage due to inclement weather conditions, the ship laden with food supplies was later brought to port for offloading.
“The plan is to store the aid until WCK decides what it wants to do,” a Cypriot official informed Reuters, indicating a holding pattern until further action is determined by the organization.
