A ship taking almost 200 tons of food to Gaza left a port in Cyprus early on Tuesday in a pilot project to open a new sea route for aid to the population. The charity ship Open Arms was seen sailing out of Larnaca port in Cyprus, towing a barge containing around 200 tonnes of flour, rice, and protein.
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The mission, mostly funded by the United Arab Emirates, is being organized by US-based charity World Central Kitchen (WCK), while Spanish charity Proactiva Open Arms is supplying the ship.
Video: First aid ship to Gaza leaves Cyprus port in pilot project / Credit: Reuters
"Our goal is to establish a maritime highway of boats and barges stocked with millions of meals continuously headed towards Gaza," said WCK founder Jose Andres and chief executive officer Erin Gore in a statement.
The charities intend to take aid directly to Gaza. With the lack of port infrastructure, WCK has said it was creating a landing jetty in Gaza with material from destroyed buildings and rubble. It has said it had another 500 tonnes of aid amassed in Cyprus which would also be dispatched.
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