American officials reported that the World Food Program (WFP) has agreed to assist in delivering aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip as soon as the U.S. military completes a pier for transporting humanitarian assistance by sea. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) confirmed that it will collaborate with the WFP to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza via the maritime corridor. They added, "This is a complex operation that requires coordination among numerous partners. Our discussions are ongoing, and throughout Gaza, the safety and security of humanitarian workers is of utmost importance for delivering assistance. We continue to call for measures that would provide greater guarantees for humanitarian workers."
U.S. President Joe Biden announced on March 8 that the U.S. military would build a temporary pier and bridge off the coast of Gaza as an alternative to land routes for delivering assistance to the region. This pier is expected to reach a length of 1,800 feet (550 meters), with two lanes. The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) noted that it "could accommodate the delivery of over two million meals daily to the residents of Gaza." The White House emphasized that "there will be no U.S. forces on the ground in Gaza, so while they will construct elements of the pier, they will not transport aid to the shore."
