Biden reveals plan for US military-built Gaza port to tackle humanitarian crisis

UNITED STATES: In a significant development announced during his State of the Union address on Thursday (7 Mar), President Joe Biden revealed plans for the construction of a temporary port in Gaza by the US military.

This strategic move aims to facilitate the efficient delivery of humanitarian aid to the territory via sea routes, thereby addressing the urgent needs of the Palestinian population.

The temporary port, to be built by the US military, is anticipated to significantly boost the flow of humanitarian assistance, allowing for the transport of “hundreds of additional truckloads” per day.

President Biden emphasized that while this initiative is a crucial step in addressing the humanitarian crisis, it will not involve the deployment of US troops on the ground in Gaza.

The announcement comes at a critical juncture as the United Nations issues a stark warning about a quarter of the Gaza population teetering on the brink of famine.

The proposed port is poised to play a pivotal role in alleviating this dire situation by expediting the delivery of essential supplies, including food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters.

However, key operational details remain unclear, such as the entity responsible for building the causeway and securing aid on land.

These uncertainties raise questions about the feasibility and success of the operation.

The timeline for the port’s establishment is estimated to be “a number of weeks,” with the initial shipments arriving via Cyprus, where Israeli security inspections will be conducted.

“A temporary pier will enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day,” President Biden said.

President Biden stressed the importance of collaboration, stating that Israel must “do its part” by facilitating the entry of more aid into the territory.

He underscored the need to ensure that humanitarian workers are not endangered in the process, emphasizing that humanitarian assistance cannot be treated as a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip.

US and Jordan conduct additional airdrops in Gaza

In a continued effort to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the United States and Jordan collaborated on additional aid airdrops on Thursday (7 Mar).

The joint operation, conducted by U.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force, aimed to provide essential relief to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict.

On 7 March, U.S. Air Force and Jordanian C-130 aircraft, along with specialized U.S. Army soldiers in aerial delivery, participated in the humanitarian assistance airdrop.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that over 38,000 meals were dropped in northern Gaza, offering life-saving support and facilitating civilian access to critical aid.

CENTCOM highlighted that these Department of Defense (DoD) humanitarian airdrops play a vital role in the broader ongoing efforts by the U.S. and partner nations to alleviate human suffering.

Emphasizing the sustained commitment to this initiative, CENTCOM stated, “These airdrops are part of a sustained effort, and we continue to plan follow-on aerial deliveries.”

USCENTCOM Conducts Combined Humanitarian Airdrops into Gaza

U.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Northern Gaza on March 7, 2024, at 3:20 p.m. (Gaza time) to provide essential relief to civilians in Gaza… pic.twitter.com/X3yUdLmnHu

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 7, 2024

This latest initiative follows the US’s earlier humanitarian aid airdrop into Gaza on Saturday (2 Mar), where more than 30,000 meals were parachuted from military planes.

WHO reports dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza hospitals

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, disclosed the grim findings of the agency’s recent visits to the Al-Awda and Kamal Adwan hospitals in northern Gaza.

These visits marked the first since early October 2023, despite ongoing efforts to secure more regular access to the region.

Dr Tedros took to social media on Monday (4 Mar) to report on the distressing conditions observed during the visits.

Alarming levels of malnutrition, children succumbing to starvation, severe shortages of fuel, food, and medical supplies, along with the destruction of hospital buildings, were among the documented challenges.

The situation at Al-Awda Hospital stands out as particularly dire, with one of its buildings completely destroyed.

Meanwhile, Kamal Adwan Hospital, the sole pediatrics facility in the north of Gaza, is grappling with overwhelming patient numbers.

Tragically, the scarcity of food has led to the deaths of 10 children.

The shortage of electricity poses a significant threat to patient care, especially in critical areas such as the intensive care unit and the neonatal unit.

Despite the grim circumstances, WHO managed to deliver 9,500 litres of fuel to each hospital, along with some essential medical supplies.

However, these efforts are acknowledged as only a fraction of the urgent lifesaving needs required in the region.

In an impassioned plea, Dr Tedros appealed to Israel to ensure the safe and regular delivery of humanitarian aid.

The urgency of scaled-up assistance is emphasized, particularly for civilians, especially children, and health staff who are in immediate need.

“The key medicine all these patients need is peace. Ceasefire,” he stated.

Grim findings during @WHO visits to Al-Awda and Kamal Adwan hospitals in northern #Gaza: severe levels of malnutrition, children dying of starvation, serious shortages of fuel, food and medical supplies, hospital buildings destroyed.

The visits over the weekend were the first… pic.twitter.com/CxaCuau7iR

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 4, 2024