UAE helps activate maritime aid corridor for Gaza

The UAE, the European Commission, the US and their partners have endorsed the activation of a maritime corridor to securely send aid from Cyprus to Gaza via sea.

In a joint statement, they said: "The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with innocent Palestinian families and children desperate for basic necessities. That is why today, the European Commission, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, the Republic of Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States announce our intent to open a maritime corridor to deliver much-needed additional amounts of humanitarian assistance by sea."

The US had earlier announced that a temporary pier would be set up in Gaza, in coordination with its humanitarian partners. These efforts will be closely coordinated with the Government of Israel.

"The delivery of humanitarian assistance directly to Gaza by sea will be complex, and our nations will continue to assess and adjust our efforts to ensure we deliver aid as effectively as possible," the satement said.

"This maritime corridor can - and must - be part of a sustained effort to increase the flow of humanitarian aid and commercial commodities into Gaza through all possible routes," it added.

Joint Statement from the European Commission, the Republic of Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States Endorsing the Activation of a Maritime Corridor to Deliver Humanitarian Assistance to Gazahttps://t.co/QpVwY5qO6B

— MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) March 8, 2024