Biden administration secures key agreement for aid distribution from US military pier being built off Gaza coast

[Eugene]

Source: CNN

Biden administration secures key agreement for aid distribution from US military pier being built off Gaza coast

By Natasha Bertrand, Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood and Alex Marquardt, CNN
8 minute read
Updated 2:11 PM EDT, Sat April 20, 2024

(CNN) — The Biden administration has secured an agreement with a major UN agency to distribute aid from the pier the US military is constructing off the coast of Gaza, two senior US officials told CNN – a key development as the US and its allies have rushed to finalize plans for how desperately needed humanitarian aid will be distributed inside the war-torn strip.

The US military is expected to finish constructing the pier early next month. The World Food Programme (WFP) will support distribution of aid from the pier following weeks of diplomatic wrangling, the organization said Saturday.

“The UN has agreed to work with the US and other partners on the maritime corridor as an additional route for relief to Gaza, on the condition that humanitarian principles can be ensured and that land access is also expanded,” a spokesperson told CNN.

“Our objective remains to bring as much food to starving Gazans as possible, to avert looming famine,” the spokesperson added.

-snip-

Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/19/politics/biden-administration-gaza-pier-distribution-agreement/index.html

[AloeVera]

1. Remember UNRWA and land crossings?

The most effective way to deliver aid in sufficient amounts is by truck convoys via land crossings. The pier and sea convoys are a very expensive way to deliver far less aid and not fast enough.

If only there was some way to convince Israel to allow the existing mechanisms of aid, via land and through an established agency, to function properly. If only.

Of course the biggest aid agency, and the only one with adequate staff, resources and established mechanisms is the sidelined and largely defunded UNRWA. Which is currently banned by Israel of working in, or entering north Gaza.

A report will come out today following a UN review of UNRWA'S practices. Sneak peak:

BEIRUT, April 22 (Reuters) - A review of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has found that it has robust frameworks to ensure compliance with humanitarian neutrality principles though issues persist.

The report, which could prompt some donors to review funding freezes, also said Israel had yet to provide supporting evidence for its claim that a significant number of UNRWA staff were members of terrorist organisations.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/review-says-unrwa-has-robust-neutrality-steps-issues-persist-2024-04-22/