The United States has announced the imminent operationalization of a floating pier designed to augment humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza. According to USAID response director Dan Dieckhaus, the construction of the pier, part of a Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) system, is complete. This development comes as hundreds of tonnes of aid have been amassed in Cyprus, awaiting shipment to Gaza.
Vice-Admiral Brad Cooper, deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command, detailed the logistics involving commercial ships collecting aid pallets from Cyprus and delivering them to a floating platform several kilometers off Gaza’s coast. From there, smaller U.S. military vessels capable of carrying significant quantities of aid will transport the supplies to a floating causeway fixed to the beach in Gaza, facilitating direct delivery to a marshaling yard onshore.
This new system is a collaborative effort, with the United Nations, primarily through the World Food Programme, playing a crucial role in the distribution of aid once it reaches Gaza’s shores. The UK has also participated, with Foreign Office reporting that nearly 100 tonnes of aid left Cyprus for the temporary pier on Wednesday.
Despite the advanced logistical setup, UN officials have expressed concerns about the functionality of the JLOTS, questioning whether it will meet the urgent needs of Gaza and ensure safety for aid workers and local residents. The system is intended to complement, not replace, existing aid delivery mechanisms.
As the JLOTS system is positioned 3 to 5 miles off Gaza’s coast and connected to the shore via a causeway, the U.S. military is taking precautions to ensure security, with two Navy destroyers assigned to protect the operation. The first aid deliveries are expected to start 24 to 48 hours after the installation of the system.
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