Cyprus says removal of US pier won't affect humanitarian corridor to Gaza

Nicosia: The imminent evacuation of a floating pier constructed by the US troops would not have an impact on Cyprus' Amalthea project, which aims to convey humanitarian aid to Gaza through a sea corridor, according to government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis.

The spokesperson told the media on Friday, in response to a US announcement that the floating dock will soon close, that there are other options for getting humanitarian aid to Gaza's civilian population, but he did not elaborate.

Letymbiotis said the Amalthea project was planned before the US decided to build a floating pier to facilitate the unloading of aid sent by ship from Larnaca port in Cyprus, Xinhua news agency reported.

The spokesman added that when the pier was removed for repairs, humanitarian aid continued to reach the civilian population in Gaza.

However, international aid to Gaza has been continuously piling up at Larnaca port, including a much-needed medical diagnostic mobile machine sent by Italy, as part of the European Civil Protection Mechanism.

According to local media reports, an alternative way would be to transfer aid to Gaza through the Israeli port of Ashdod, as Israel is involved in the project by checking aid materials before loading.

Another option is to unload aid pallets onto smaller vessels, which could negotiate the shallow waters of Gaza.

Pentagon Spokesperson Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder said on Thursday that the military failed to re-anchor the pier on Wednesday, without mentioning a new date for re-anchoring.

With inputs from IANS