News - WP: US completes operation of temporary pier to deliver aid to Gaza

The U.S. military completed the operation of a temporary pier for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip due to numerous problems. The Washington Post newspaper reports with reference to the representative of the Central Command of the U.S. Armed Forces, Brad Cooper.“The maritime mission using the pier has been completed,” the publication quoted him as saying. Cooper added that the U.S. will focus efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to the enclave in the Israeli port of Ashdod.The publication notes that immediately after its launch, the initiative, which cost Washington $230 million, encountered numerous problems. Strong waves damaged the structure, causing its operation to be constantly suspended. In addition, humanitarian aid teams that were supposed to distribute food after it was brought ashore refused to do so due to concerns about the safety of personnel.According to the newspaper, some 20 million pounds (just over 9,000 tons) of humanitarian aid has been delivered to the Gaza Strip via the pier since the start of the operation on May 17, which is only a fraction of what the people of Gaza need.