Aid groups have begun distributing over 500 metric tons of food and humanitarian aid offloaded at the US pier in Gaza to Palestinians, facing obstacles such as Hamas drones and looting along distribution routes. Two-thirds of the aid has already been delivered or is in the process of reaching those in need, according to a USAID official. The US military had to help come up with alternative routes for trucks traveling from the pier to warehouses due to challenges faced during distribution.
The distribution of aid comes after a rocky start to the US military’s pier operation, with delays in deliveries caused by a Hamas drone attack and looting of trucks along the distribution paths. Despite these challenges, more than 1,000 US troops helped to build the humanitarian pier and causeway, with the operation launching last week. The maritime corridor is meant to supplement land crossings into Gaza that are often closed or bottlenecked by Israeli inspections, and aid is also being airdropped into Gaza.
The aid that has been distributed so far is enough to feed tens of thousands of people for a month, but the situation in Gaza remains dire with the entire population facing food insecurity and parts of the strip already experiencing famine. Fuel shortages are also hindering aid distribution efforts. The US military and aid groups are working to scale up and sustain assistance to meet urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza through various avenues, including the pier and air drops.
Despite the challenges faced during distribution, progress has been made with 27 trucks carrying over 185 metric tons of aid being moved from the marshaling area on the beach for distribution this week. Some land crossings into Gaza remain open, with private sector and humanitarian assistance trucks entering through different checkpoints. However, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire with some crossings still closed.
Three US service members sustained injuries during the pier mission, with two being treated for minor injuries at a local Israeli hospital and returning to duty. Another service member is in critical condition after being injured while working aboard a USNS ship in support of the mission. The injured service member was also taken to a medical facility in Israel for treatment. The US continues its efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of civilians in Gaza.
