Amidst intense international efforts to deliver aid to the besieged Gaza Strip, where thousands are on the brink of starvation, especially in the north, the cargo of the first ship to reach the area was completely unloaded yesterday. The organization "World Central Kitchen" announced in a statement today, Saturday, that the ship "Open Arms," the first to reach Gaza via the new maritime corridor from Cyprus, has fully unloaded its cargo, which included 200 tons of rice, flour, proteins, and other items.
It was also revealed that another ship is being loaded with supplies and prepared for dispatch to the people of Gaza. The organization published video clips on its Twitter account showing the unloading process that took place yesterday off the coast of Gaza, as well as videos of the preparation of the second ship docked in Cyprus.
Simultaneously, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, commented, stating that this ship represents "a glimmer of hope in dark times." He emphasized the necessity for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza swiftly and by all possible means, especially by land to prevent famine from spreading.
It is worth noting that "Open Arms" set sail last Tuesday, carrying food supplies, including rice, flour, legumes, canned vegetables, and proteins, and arrived yesterday alongside the temporary dock currently being constructed on Gaza's shore.
This comes in response to increasing international and UN warnings of famine in the devastated Palestinian territory and the spread of epidemics, particularly as Israel has obstructed the entry of aid trucks via land from the Rafah crossing, where hundreds of trucks remain stranded awaiting the stringent inspection procedures imposed by Israeli forces at the Kerem Shalom crossing.
Meanwhile, some countries have begun air-dropping relief supplies, including the United States and Jordan, in operations deemed by many observers to be ineffective and costly, and sometimes even dangerous. According to UN estimates, one-third of the population in Gaza is experiencing severe shortages of food and medicine, facing the threat of hunger, particularly in the north.
