The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and humanitarian organization World Central Kitchen (WCK) announced a successful milestone in aid delivery to Gaza. For the first time since October, a ship carrying nearly 200 tons of vital food supplies arrived off the Gaza coast, marking a "historic first" according to a joint statement.
Operation Safeena, the name given to the mission, was conducted in partnership with the Spanish NGO Open Arms and with the support of the Cypriot government. The critical aid shipment departed Cyprus and docked near Gaza, initiating a new maritime route for delivering assistance to the beleaguered Palestinian territory.
The much-needed supplies, including rice, flour, and protein sources, were then transported to the particularly hard-hit region of Northern Gaza. This crucial step was facilitated through collaboration with a World Food Programme (WFP) convoy, which also carried additional ready-to-eat meals prepared by WCK.
"Bringing food by sea to Gaza is a critical and long overdue step," declared Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation. "Food and water are a universal right," she emphasized, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the urgent need for a multifaceted response that utilizes land, air, and now, sea routes.
Erin Gore, CEO of World Central Kitchen, echoed these sentiments, expressing gratitude for the "robust partnership" with the UAE, Open Arms, and Cyprus. She underscored the ongoing challenges faced by Gaza and WCK's unwavering commitment to addressing them. Since October, WCK, along with its partners, has served a staggering 39 million meals within Gaza, with their efforts constituting over 60% of all humanitarian food aid provided by NGOs in the territory.
This recent maritime delivery represents a significant addition to the UAE's extensive support for Gaza. To date, the UAE has delivered a total of 21,000 tons of urgent supplies, encompassing food, water, and medical necessities. These critical resources have been dispatched through a diverse range of methods, including 216 flights, 10 airdrops, 964 trucks, and now, two ships.
The arrival of Operation Safeena's cargo offers a glimmer of hope for the people of Gaza, particularly those residing in the most severely affected areas. The UAE and WCK's collaborative effort demonstrates a vital new avenue for delivering humanitarian aid and paves the way for continued support in the face of a critical situation.