The EU, Cyprus, UAE, and U.S. have pledged to provide famine relief to Palestine, but their efforts are being hampered by Israel's blockades and challenging weather conditions. Now a maritime route is being opened to combat the growing crisis.

Nicosia

The European Union, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States have committed to delivering famine relief to Palestine, in response to an escalating humanitarian crisis. Their efforts to provide necessary aid, however, are facing significant obstacles. The primary challenges encountered include blockades imposed by Israel, as well as adverse weather conditions, which are complicating the delivery process.

To counteract these impediments and ensure that the much-needed assistance reaches those in need, a new strategy is being deployed. A maritime route is being established as a means to circumvent the blockades and mitigate the impact of unfavorable weather on aid delivery. This initiative represents a crucial step towards combating the growing crisis in Palestine and facilitating the provision of essential relief.



Maritime aid corridor for Gaza

They're calling it the Maritime Corridor. Announced by the EU with its partners, it's supposed to be one solution to alleviate what can only be described as a looming famine. We are launching this Cyprus Maritime Corridor together. Cyprus, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. And it is your relentless work to get this corridor up and running. Despite all the challenges, this is truly inspiring. But it's not enough and nowhere near efficient enough to get the massive amount of aid needed for 2.3 million Palestinians trapped in the Strip. Hundreds of trucks carrying crucial aid remain stranded in Egypt, but Israel is ignoring calls to reopen land crossings into the Strip. The UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees says moving aid by land is the most effective route. It's so easy. There are several crossing points that connect the State of Israel with the Gaza Strip. This is what we used before the war started on the 7th of October, when there was a regular flow of about 500 trucks every day, including commercial supplies. So it shouldn't be complicated at all. When there is a political will, there is a way. The Maritime Corridor is far from easy. It's got to get the aid off the boat. Now, there's no functioning port in Gaza, so that's another logistical challenge. It's then got to get onto trucks and into distribution centres. That won't happen overnight, something the British foreign minister referenced in a comment. It's going to take time to build. So the crucial thing is today the Israelis must confirm that they'll open the port at Ashdod. That is in Israel, but that's a working port. It could take aid now, that would increase the amount of aid, and that aid can then be driven into Gaza. That would make a real difference, and we need to make a real difference right now. That comment raised eyebrows, as the whole point of the Maritime Corridor is to get aid directly into the Strip. For now, bad weather has hampered the boat from sailing from Larnaca. It remains in port, very much a symbol of vital aid stuck. But even when it sails, it won't be enough. And even if it's successful, scaling up to meet the needs of people who are facing a man-made famine is highly unlikely. Imran Khan, Al Jazeera, Larnaca.

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