Fatshimetrie: The Floating Pier Rekindles Hope for Humanitarian Aid in Gaza
The floating pier, a symbol of unwavering international solidarity, has finally been anchored on a beach in Gaza, promising the delivery of essential humanitarian aid to the local population. US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that personnel secured the pier around 7:40 a.m. local time to support the humanitarian mission to deliver more aid to Palestinian civilians. Starting from the port of Ashdod, about 30 miles away, the pier traveled all the way to Gaza Beach on Wednesday.
In the coming days, trucks are expected to begin unloading humanitarian aid onto the land, while the United Nations coordinates its distribution in the besieged Gaza Strip. CENTCOM stressed that no US troops had entered Gaza.
The Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) system consists of two parts: the floating jetty where the cargoes will be unloaded and the causeway to transfer the cargoes to the distribution point in Gaza.
The UK’s announcement that it will send its first shipment of humanitarian aid, including 8,400 temporary shelters, from Cyprus to Gaza, demonstrates the global commitment to the cause. Cyprus serves as a departure point for humanitarian aid which will be delivered to Gaza via the sea corridor and the jetty.
U.S. humanitarian aid is already positioned on a ship at the port of Ashdod awaiting when the pier will be operational, according to the Pentagon. The temporary jetty aims to supplement aid entering through land crossings into Gaza, with the initial aim of allowing 90 aid trucks to enter Gaza each day, a figure that could rise to 150 trucks per day when the jetty is operating at full capacity. diet.
In a briefing Wednesday, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, stressed that the pier does not replace land routes to Gaza, and that there would be “no U.S. military presence on the ground.” in Gaza. The aid delivery process involves several stages, from Cyprus to distribution in Gaza via the floating platform and temporary jetty.
As of today, hundreds of tons of aid are ready to be delivered, with thousands of tons waiting, from several different nations. The cost of JLOTS for the first three months is estimated at around $320 million.
USAID Response Director Dan Dieckhaus acknowledged there is “constant risk” but assured that JLOTS and the causeway are not exposed to additional risks beyond those already present in Gaza .
The establishment of this floating jetty marks a crucial turning point in the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, offering new hope to a population facing daily challenges. International solidarity is thus concretized through concrete actions, demonstrating a common desire to help those in need. This gesture of generosity and mutual aid shows that, even in the darkest times, humanity always finds a way to shine through solidarity and compassion.