Conflicts & War

Ship with food for Gaza still stuck in Cyprus amid ‘technical problems’

Nicosia, Mar 11 (EFE).- A ship carrying some 200 tonnes of humanitarian aid for people in war-torn Gaza was still anchored in the Cypriot port of Larnaca on Monday, a day after it was originally due to leave for the Palestinian enclave, Cyprus’ foreign minister Constantinos Kombos said.

The aid ship belonging to Spanish NGO Open Arms was still awaiting approval for departure amid delays due to “technical problems”, Kombos told state broadcaster RIK.

The minister said the issues were related to the situation at the ship’s planned destination, which has not been disclosed.

Kombos insisted the problems were not serious and was hopeful that the ship would be able to set sail later on Monday.

The ship is scheduled to carry some 200 tons of food, including flour, rice and tuna cans, to the Palestinian enclave.

More than 31,000 people have died in Gaza since Israel launched its military response to a Hamas terror attack on Oct. 7.

The subsequent bombing campaign and ground invasion have devastated large parts of the enclave and displaced nearly 2 million people, triggering what the United Nations has called a humanitarian catastrophe.

In Gaza, the aid will be received by teams from World Central Kitchen, an NGO founded by the renowned Spanish chef José Andrés.

The operation has been authorised by the Cyprus government, Israel and the Palestinian National Authority, according to Open Arms. EFE

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