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Thursday's gathering is being attended by Sigrid Kaag, the
U.N.'s senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for
Gaza, as well as Curtis Ried, chief of staff of the U.S.
National Security Council.
As famine looms over Gaza, agencies are increasingly looking for
alternative routes to get aid into the enclave other than land
crossings. But lack of infrastructure is an issue; one charity
which dispatched aid from Cyprus last week made a landing jetty
out of rubble, while the U.S. has also announced plans to create
a floating pier.
Under an agreement hammered out with Israel, cargoes can undergo
security inspections in Cyprus by a team including Israel,
eliminating the need for screenings at its final offloading
point to remove potential hold-ups in aid deliveries.
One vessel left Cyprus last week and distributed aid in Gaza,
while another two are expected to depart in coming days, subject
to weather conditions.
"We are discussing how we can max up operational capacity both
in terms of departure and means of transport and also in
relation to the reception and distribution methodology," said
Constantinos Kombos, Cyprus's foreign minister.
Delegates would also discuss the creation of a fund to
coordinate operational activities of the initiative, Kombos
said, although he clarified it was not a donor's conference.
Asked how many vessels could be departing Cyprus with aid once
the initiative is at full operational capacity, Kombos said "as
many as possible".
"We have to remember there are limitations in terms of the
reception and distribution and the whole point is not to just
stockpile aid here but about a quick turnaround so we are as
efficient as possible."
(Reporting by Michele Kambas; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
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