US begins building humanitarian aid ships in Gaza

US Department of Defense declared This Thursday (April 25, 2024) a shipyard off the coast of Gaza will begin bringing humanitarian aid to the enclave's citizens. The operation, carried out by about 1,000 soldiers, aims to circumvent Israeli restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid by land.

American soldiers are guarded by Israel Defense Forces soldiers. “The effort to deliver humanitarian aid from the sea is fully supported by the Israel Defense Forces, with whom we have worked and will continue to work closely – from securing the ship to providing force protection ashore.”, Said US Department of Defense.

The ship is expected to receive the equivalent of 150 trucks of humanitarian aid to the region.

In Rafah, southern Gaza, more than 1.5 million people live in precarious conditions. According to UNRWA (Summary in English of the United Nations Office for Palestine Refugees in the Near East). People have limited access to potable water and sometimes use salt water to beat the 40 °C heat in the region.

Francesca Albanese, UN Commissioner for the Occupied Palestinian Territories Special Rapporteur, In the states Israel blocks the entry of many essential items for citizens.

“Water desalinators, first aid kits, oxygen cylinders and portable toilets, paid for by taxpayers around the world, languish in warehouses”he said.