UN Resumes Transporting Aid From US-Built Pier In Gaza

The United Nations has resumed transporting humanitarian aid arriving at a US-built pier off the coast of the Gaza Strip after deliveries were halted for two days because some truckloads of aid were intercepted by needy Palestinians.

Report says aid deliveries began arriving at a US-built pier as Israel comes under growing global pressure to allow more supplies into the besieged coastal enclave, where it is at war with Palestinian militants Hamas and famine looms.

The UN is coordinating aid distribution at the floating dock but has remained adamant that aid deliveries by land are the “most viable, effective and efficient” way to combat the humanitarian crisis in the enclave of 2.3 million people.

The UN has said at least 500 trucks a day are needed to enter Gaza.

Report says ten truckloads of aid driven from the pier site by UN contractors were received on Friday at a World Food Programme warehouse in Deir El Balah. But on Saturday, only five loads made it to the warehouse after 11 others were intercepted.

The UN halted transport for two days while it came up with a new route. WFP spokesperson Shaza Moghraby said on Thursday that deliveries resumed on Tuesday with 17 trucks arriving at the warehouse, while on Wednesday there were 27 trucks.

“All commodities have been accounted for to my knowledge and no incidents were reported,” Moghraby said, adding that some aid is for WFP to distribute, while the rest is for other aid groups operating in Gaza.

REUTERS/Christopher Ojilere