First humanitarian aid shipment reaches Gaza shore

New Delhi, Mar 16: The inaugural maritime humanitarian aid shipment destined for Gaza has successfully been offloaded onto the shore, marking a crucial milestone in relief efforts for the region.

Led by the US-based charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates, the mission delivered 200 tonnes of food supplies to Gaza, where the United Nations has issued dire warnings of an impending famine.

The shipment arrived aboard the Spanish charity ship Open Arms and underwent inspection by Israeli authorities at the port in Cyprus before proceeding to Gaza.

Among the provisions were essential food items such as beans, carrots, canned tuna, chickpeas, and flour, alongside spiritual staples like pallets of dates, significant during the holy month of Ramadan.

In a statement, WCK confirmed that the entire cargo has been unloaded onto dry land and is being prepared for distribution within Gaza.

Despite the successful delivery, challenges remain in the distribution process, with limited details available on the operational framework for aid dissemination.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced the deployment of troops to secure the shoreline, highlighting the complexities and sensitivities surrounding aid delivery operations in the region.

The delivery of this much-needed assistance comes amidst escalating concerns over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with the United Nations warning of an imminent famine without urgent intervention.