The United States is fast-tracking the construction of a landing jetty to enhance aid delivery to Gaza by sea, with aims to complete it before May 1, as announced by a senior US official. This effort comes in response to the dire food shortages in Gaza, where the United Nations reports famine-level conditions among its 2.3 million residents after five months of conflict.
Land aid bottlenecks have pushed for alternatives like airdrops and a recent maritime corridor from Cyprus, yet the absence of proper infrastructure led to the creation of a temporary rubble jetty. The planned US pier aims to facilitate more efficient aid delivery to the Gaza shore.
Curtis Ried, the National Security Council’s chief of staff, emphasized the US military’s commitment to making the jetty operational ahead of schedule during a conference in Cyprus. The operational plan does not include American personnel going ashore in Gaza but involves Israel securing a broad area for aid distribution. Discussions are ongoing for additional security partnerships.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is expected to continue distributing aid despite the US pausing its funding over allegations against UNRWA employees in Gaza. The conference in Cyprus, attended by officials from 36 countries and various aid agencies, highlighted the international effort to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.