The United States has said it will be providing more relief packages, like hygiene kits for 30,000 people as temporary pier is now in place and affixed through the humanitarian maritime corridor.
This was disclosed by the Deputy Administrator, United States Agency for International Development USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, Sonali Korde in a Press Briefing at the Pentagon, Washington DC on Thursday.
She explained that the maritime corridor and the temporary pier will assist humanitarian organizations deliver lifesaving assistance that is arriving in Cyprus, where it will be screened for loading onto ships for delivery to Gaza by sea.
Korde added that the United States is providing nutrient-rich food bars for 11,000 of most vulnerable, ready-to-use therapeutic foods to treat 7,200 children with the most life-threatening forms of malnutrition, other donor nations and partners are providing much-needed lifesaving supplies also.
She said this moves is necessary because of absolutely dire conditions in Gaza, adding that the conditions on the ground have not improved, and in the past two weeks, they have seen a vital corridor crossing close and aid supply decline at a time when it is critical to see more aid move.
“Across Gaza, 2.2 million people – the entire population – is facing acute food insecurity. More than half of the population in the north is at catastrophic levels, I want to underscore just how dire this is for the most vulnerable, particularly mothers and children, and that is who we are particularly focused on reaching with our assistance.
“As humanitarian needs continue to skyrocket, the United States is working tirelessly to surge assistance through all available means to address the impacts of this crisis. To mitigate and counter the threat of famine and extreme food insecurity, humanitarian organizations are working to increase lifesaving food assistance, but food alone is not enough.
“We also need nutritional treatment, clean water and support for healthcare workers to reach mothers and children and prevent a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation. We need to ensure that the most vulnerable have access to the assistance they need and alleviate the immense suffering in Gaza” she said.
Adding that, “USAID has been working with the Department of Defense to establish the humanitarian maritime corridor to augment, not replace ongoing efforts to scale delivery of humanitarian aid by land. With the pier in placed, we now beginning to load assistance to travel through the humanitarian corridor, expecting aid to begin arriving ashore in the coming days.
She made it known that once these supplies arrive in Gaza, humanitarian organizations, including the trusted USAID partners, will determine how to ensure they reach those in greatest need in an independent, neutral and impartial manner consistent with humanitarian principles.
This, she said is a complex aid mission that requires continuous coordination between many partners, support and contributions of the United Nations, government of Cyprus and other international partners, including the United Kingdom, European Union, UAE and France, naming a few, is vital.
Korde stated that uniting United States and all the partners and underpinning this entire mission is a commitment to save lives, adding that it is critical that humanitarian workers are able to safely deliver.
“And distribute lifesaving systems from the maritime corridor and throughout Gaza in line with humanitarian principles, and we will continue to advocate for increased measures to provide greater assurances for more of those working on the ground at personal risk to do so”, she said.
“While aid has increasingly entered Gaza in recent weeks, more needs to be done now, especially in light of recent setbacks. We will continue to engage all stakeholders to help address the needs of Gazans, especially the women and children”.
On behalf of United States thanked all of the partners who have supported the maritime humanitarian corridor and work to continue to surge in assistance, protect humanitarian actors and activities.
Also, open all land crossings and remove impediments to the delivery of aid so that it reaches every vulnerable person: mothers, children, elderly and disabled. There’s no time to lose and no effort can be spared”, the USAID Deputy Administrator, Bureau of Humanitarian Assistant said.
