"Why is Gaza Aid Stuck? US Faces Logistical and Security Challenges"

Gaza Aid Stuck: Understanding the US Struggles in Delivering Help

The Pentagon has confirmed that none of the aid unloaded from the temporary pier off the Gaza coast has reached people. The United States' efforts to deliver 500 tons of humanitarian aid daily to war-torn Gaza have faced significant setbacks.

People watch as Palestinians examine boats damaged by Israeli fire in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 22, 2024. (REUTERS/Hatem Khaled)

According to the Pentagon, none of the aid unloaded from the temporary pier off the Gaza coast has reached the people. This delay persists even as the US, the United Nations, and Israel work to find secure delivery routes within the enclave.

The Pentagon's admission comes as the situation in Gaza remains dire. Sonali Korde from the US Agency for International Development told CNN that 2.2 million people in Gaza are facing severe food insecurity.

Last week, the US transported 569 tons of aid to Gaza through a makeshift pier known as Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS). Despite this, the aid has encountered many logistical obstacles.

Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder stated, "As of today, I do not believe any of the aid has been delivered to the people of Gaza." He explained that the aid was held in an assembly area on shore and only began moving to warehouses for distribution once alternative routes were established.

This initiative to deliver aid via the pier has not met initial expectations. Adm. Brad Cooper of the US Naval Forces Central Command had hoped to transport 500 tons of aid daily, but this goal remains unmet due to logistical and security issues.

The challenges extend beyond transportation logistics. Last weekend, trucks carrying aid were intercepted by desperate Gazans, prompting the UN to temporarily suspend delivery operations. A Gaza resident told CNN, "I don’t understand this floating pier or what its purpose is. They say it’s for aid, but people are apprehensive. Is this aid or something else?"

In response to these challenges, the US is working with Israel and the UN to establish "alternative routes" for safe delivery. This includes facilitating aid through land routes and addressing logistical issues like sea and weather conditions. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is in discussions with Israeli counterparts to secure land crossings, including through Rafah, a critical but complex entry point.

Additionally, the US has conducted several humanitarian air drops in partnership with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, though the regularity of these drops remains uncertain.

During White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s recent visit to the Middle East, discussions with Israeli officials included "specific requests" for facilitating aid distribution. This included scanning aid in Cyprus before its direct shipment to the Israeli port of Ashdod, bypassing Egypt to expedite delivery.