Heavy seas put US military-built pier out of action for more than a week in Gaza
The US military-built floating pier attached to Gaza's shoreline is out of action due to heavy seas and is not expected to be operational for a further week, according to a US official.
Despite having only gone into operation just two weeks ago, the US reiterates that the pier is not a failure, due to the "1000 metric tonnes of aid that has gotten into Gaza".
In March, US president Joe Biden announced that the US would be assembling the floating structure off the coast to allow the delivery of vital humanitarian aid.
Throughout its development, it has not been without its reported setbacks. In May, the US "temporarily paused" its construction "due to sea state considerations".
In response to the latest issue, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said that deliveries of humanitarian aid to the coastal Palestinian enclave by sea would be suspended.
This was due to a portion of the pier having broken off and that the pier would be towed over the next 48 hours to Ashdod port in Israel for repairs.
Ms Singh added that the pier would take more than a week to repair and then return to its place off the coast of Gaza.
This latest announcement brings up the question if enough is being done, even if the pier was operational.
Yesterday, the worldwide non-profit organization Save the Children along with 20 humanitarian groups warned that even with the pier, aid deliveries to and within Gaza are an inadequate response.
According to a UN World Food Programme spokesperson, since the pier began operations, the United Nations has transported 137 trucks of aid from the pier - the equivalent of 900 metric tons.
Earlier this month a shipment of UK humanitarian aid, including nearly 100 tonnes of shelter coverage kits, left Cyprus to be part of the first delivery to the temporary pier.
RFA vessel Cardigan Bay supported the US military's construction of the pier by housing hundreds of American soldiers and sailors who were involved in building the structure.
Earlier this month, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps highlighted the importance of the pier for delivering vital aid.
He said the pier was vital to get supplies through to the Palestinians.
"The newly operational pier off the coast of Gaza will enable truckloads of humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians in dire need," Mr Shapps said.
"The UK continues to play a key role in this Herculean international effort – supporting logistics co-ordination in Cyprus, deploying RFA Cardigan Bay to help US personnel constructing and operating the pier and providing UK aid for delivery."
He added: "We expect the first shipment to provide enough provisions to feed 11,000 people for a month."
According to the Save the Children report: "Aid agencies now fear an acceleration in deaths from starvation, disease and denied medical assistance, while land and sea entry points remain effectively shut to meaningful humanitarian assistance, most desperately fuel, and attacks in areas sheltering civilians intensify."
Israel's increased military campaign in Gaza came as a response to the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October which killed an estimated 1,200 people, while a reported 252 others were taken as hostages.
The war since then has resulted in more than 36,000 Palestinians being killed, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.
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