First humanitarian aid ship arrives in Gaza

The first ship carrying nearly 200 tons of food, water and necessities has docked at the port of the Gaza Strip, inaugurating the humanitarian sea corridor from Cyprus.

"All goods have been unloaded and are ready for distribution in Gaza," the US charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) announced today about the first nearly 200 tons of aid transported through the new sea aid corridor.

The Open Arms, a partner ship of WCK, departed from the port of Larnaca in Cyprus on March 13 and arrived in Gaza on March 15. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said the Open Arms had begun returning to the country's port and a second ship was preparing to depart.

A second ship carrying 240 tonnes of aid is anchored at Larnaca port awaiting the signal to depart. WCK said the new shipment includes canned food and clothing.

In addition, the second train carries two forklifts and a crane to support the transportation of goods to Gaza in the coming time. Eight workers to operate machinery and unload aid will also accompany the convoy to Gaza.

The first humanitarian aid ship from the Republic of Cyprus arrived in Gaza on March 15. Photo: AFP — The first humanitarian aid ship from the Republic of Cyprus arrived in Gaza on March 15. Photo: *AFP*

The maiden voyage marks the initial success of a new sea corridor that WCK, together with the Open Arms charity from Spain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Cyprus, launched in an effort to deliver humanitarian aid to people in the Gaza Strip.

"We hope that the newly opened sea corridor, together with the aid corridors on land, will help solve the hunger situation for the people in the region," Open Arms, the ship's supplier, announced on the X network on March 14.

People in the Gaza Strip said they had resorted to eating wild plants or animal feed. Some residents even stormed aid convoys to Gaza to steal food.

As the situation worsened, many countries and international organizations sent supplies by air and sea. The German Air Force said on March 16 that it had successfully carried out its first aid delivery to northern Gaza.

The Israel-Hamas conflict broke out in early October 2023, after the armed group attacked southern Israel, killing more than 1,100 people and kidnapping about 250.

Israel has launched a counter-offensive against Hamas in Gaza, killing more than 31,500 people, mostly women and children, in months of fighting.

Thanh Tam (According to Politico, AFP, Reuters )

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