The temporary pier in place off the Gaza shore on Thursday. Photo: US Defence Department
The temporary pier in place off the Gaza shore on Thursday. Photo: US Defence Department
The temporary pier in place off the Gaza shore on Thursday. Photo: US Defence Department
The temporary pier in place off the Gaza shore on Thursday. Photo: US Defence Department

Northern Gaza facing ‘catastrophic’ food shortages, US says as aid pier is completed


Thomas Watkins
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

Food insecurity in northern Gaza has reached “catastrophic” levels and Israel’s closure of the Rafah border crossing in the south has further cut supplies at a critical time, a US official said on Thursday.

He was speaking as the Pentagon announced the completion of an emergency aid pier.

“Across Gaza, 2.2 million people – the entire population – are facing acute food insecurity,” said Sonali Korde, assistant to the administrator of USAid’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.

"More than half of the population in the north is at catastrophic levels. In the past two weeks, we have seen a vital border crossing close and a supply decline at a time when it is critical … we need to have everything open, all routes open.”

Ms Korde was speaking alongside Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, deputy commander of US Central Command, who said international aid would be delivered on a temporary pier attached to a Gaza beach within days.

“Just a few hours ago, the pier was successfully affixed to the beach in Gaza,” Vice Admiral Cooper said.

“As we sit here now, we have about 500 tonnes of humanitarian assistance, loaded on ships."

He said the aid would be delivered in the “next couple of days”.

UN agencies have warned, however, that the planned maritime aid corridor, along with aid drops from planes, cannot replace far more efficient lorry deliveries.

Israel, which seized control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt last week, has restricted aid flows into Gaza as it fights against Hamas in the enclave.

Security for the temporary aid pier will be provided by Israel.

Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said there were no indications that Hamas was planning to attack it.

"But should there be attacks either towards the maritime humanitarian corridor or around the marshalling area, that is going to directly affect Palestinian people, the people that need this aid the most," Ms Singh said.

Palestinians in central Gaza look at a ship near a US-built floating pier on Thursday. AP
Palestinians in central Gaza look at a ship near a US-built floating pier on Thursday. AP

US President Joe Biden's administration announced in March that it would establish the pier as part of efforts to ease Gaza's humanitarian crisis.

The pier forms part of a US military system called Joint Logistics Over the Shore, or JLots, which was used in military operations during the 1991 Gulf War, and in humanitarian disasters in which ports have been destroyed, such as the Haiti earthquake.

In his State of the Union speech in March, Mr Biden laid blame for the deteriorating situation on Israel, saying that “humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip”.

The UN World Food Programme said in a post on X on Thursday that the threat of famine has “never loomed larger”, and that stocks of fuel and food would run out in days.

Civilians ordered to flee eastern Rafah as Israel begins invasion – in pictures

  • An Israeli soldier directs a tank near Israel's border with southern Gaza. Getty Images
    An Israeli soldier directs a tank near Israel's border with southern Gaza. Getty Images
  • An Israeli soldier stands on a tank in southern Israel. Getty Images
    An Israeli soldier stands on a tank in southern Israel. Getty Images
  • People flee the eastern parts of Rafah ahead of a threatened Israeli incursion. Reuters
    People flee the eastern parts of Rafah ahead of a threatened Israeli incursion. Reuters
  • Palestinians leave ahead of a threatened assault on Rafah. Reuters
    Palestinians leave ahead of a threatened assault on Rafah. Reuters
  • Palestinians search for casualties in the rubble of a house destroyed in an Israeli strike in Rafah. AFP
    Palestinians search for casualties in the rubble of a house destroyed in an Israeli strike in Rafah. AFP
  • Palestinians carry an injured man who was pulled from the rubble of a house destroyed in an Israeli strike in Rafah. AFP
    Palestinians carry an injured man who was pulled from the rubble of a house destroyed in an Israeli strike in Rafah. AFP
  • Mourners next to the bodies of Palestinians killed in an Israeli strike in southern Gaza. Reuters
    Mourners next to the bodies of Palestinians killed in an Israeli strike in southern Gaza. Reuters
  • Mourners at Abu Yousef El-Najjar Hospital in Rafah. Reuters
    Mourners at Abu Yousef El-Najjar Hospital in Rafah. Reuters
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Director: Jason Reitman

Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace

Rating: 2/5

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Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.

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Wed, Aug 29:

  • Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
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Thu, Aug 30: UAE v Nepal; Hong Kong v Singapore; Malaysia v Oman

Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal

Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore

Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu, Sep 6: Final

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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

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The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

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Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

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Bio

Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind. 
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.

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TOURNAMENT INFO

Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier

Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November

UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi

Updated: May 17, 2024, 5:48 AM