The vessel arrived amid dire warnings from U.N. officials about mass starvation in Gaza, particularly in the north.
A ship carrying 200 tons of food approached the coast of Gaza on March 15. The aid was organized by celebrity chef José Andrés and the Spanish group Open Arms. A ship organized by a celebrity chef’s nonprofit delivered nearly 200 tons of food and water to the blockadedon Friday, becoming the first to test a new maritime corridor for ramping up aid to a region on the brink of famine.World Central Kitchen and the Israel Defense Forces separately confirmed the ship’s arrival Friday.
The Gaza Health Ministry says at least 27 children have died of malnutrition and dehydration. More than a quarter of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents are facing “catastrophic levels of deprivation and starvation,” according to the United Nations. Israel says it is not restricting the delivery of aid. But in recent weeks, U.S. lawmakers who have visited the region have described seeing hundreds of trucks denied access to Gaza by Israeli forces. The United States and other nations have responded to the crisis byThe scope of desperation there has rendered the limited aid deliveries increasingly precarious, as hungry people have been killed by stampedes and gunfire, and crushed beneath the wheels of trucks as they clamor for food and water.
The ship’s cargo, the equivalent of about 10 to 12 aid trucks, is still only a drop in the bucket of Gaza’s needs. Before the war, some 500 trucks daily entered the territory, which for years had subsisted under a more limited Israeli blockade. But since October, the number has plummeted to between 100 and 200 each day. The airdrops have typically contained about 1½ tons of supplies.
Andrés warned that the Israeli military could block the ship from delivering its cargo or that the mission could be undermined by bad weather. “We are trying to bring in food by the port. Why? Because I cannot bring more trucks in,” said Andrés, who spoke to The Washington Post after the Capitol Hill briefing, alongside Sen. Peter Welch and one of Biden’s confidants, Sen. Chris Coons , who together invited the chef to the Capitol to give his presentation.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The first ship to use a new sea route approaches Gaza with 200 tons of aidWADI GAZA, Gaza Strip (AP) — A ship carrying 200 tons of aid approached the coast of Gaza on Friday in a mission to inaugurate a sea route from Cyprus to
Read more »
Live blog: Israel attacks Nasser Hospital in Gaza, kills 1, wounds othersIsrael's war on Gaza — now in its 132nd day — has killed at least 28,576 Palestinians and wounded 68,291 others, as the army forces thousands of Palestinians who were seeking refuge in Nasser Hospital to leave.
Read more »
Live blog: Peace efforts in Gaza 'fruitless' due to US approach — ErdoganIsrael's war on Gaza — now in its 132nd day — has killed at least 28,663 Palestinians and wounded 68,395 others, as the army forces thousands of Palestinians who were seeking refuge in Nasser Hospital to leave.
Read more »
Israeli forces storm main hospital in southern Gaza after prolonged standoff and partial evacuationThe raid came a day after the army sought to evacuate thousands of displaced people who had taken shelter at the Nasser Hospital.
Read more »
IDF Storms Largest Hospital in Southern Gaza and Attacks 'Ward Full of Patients'Jake Johnson is a senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams.
Read more »
Israeli special forces enter largest functioning hospital in GazaIsraeli special forces on Thursday entered Nasser Hospital, the largest remaining functioning medical facility in Gaza, according to both the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Ministry of Health in Hamas-run Gaza.
Read more »