This weekend marks the departure of the Open Arms, a Spanish aid vessel, from Cyprus, embarking on a crucial mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The vessel, operated by the Spanish charity Open Arms, aims to navigate a newly established shipping route to reach the besieged region.
Challenges Ahead
Gaza, with its non-operational port and shallow coastal waters, presents a significant challenge for docking. The exact location for offloading the aid remains undetermined, raising questions about the logistics of the mission.
Critical Humanitarian Effort
The United Nations has highlighted the dire situation in Gaza, where a quarter of the population faces the threat of famine, and children suffer from acute malnutrition. The Open Arms ship is poised to deliver 200 tonnes of essential food supplies, courtesy of the US-based World Central Kitchen, to alleviate this crisis.
Journey Details
Scheduled to leave from Larnaca port in Cyprus, the closest EU point to Gaza, the ship’s journey to Gaza is anticipated to take two to three days, covering approximately 216 nautical miles. The final phase of the journey involves intricate logistics to safely deliver the aid to Gaza’s coast.
Preparations and Security
Oscar Camps, the founder of Open Arms, expressed confidence in the operation’s security and detailed the construction of a pier by the World Central Kitchen team in Gaza to facilitate the offloading of supplies. This effort ensures that the aid can be efficiently distributed to those in need across the region.
Also learn about The US and EU’s Navigational Efforts for Gaza Relief.
