- The Biden administration’s $320 million pier project in Gaza, aimed at delivering humanitarian aid, has faced significant disruptions from storms, injuries, theft, political discord, and Israeli offensives, leading to delays and operational troubles. [washingtonpost.com, usatoday.com, apnews.com, chinadaily.com.cn]
- The damaged pier has been sent to Ashdod, Israel for repairs, and sections of the Trident Pier need to be rebuilt due to the damage caused by heavy seas and strong winds shortly after becoming operational. [middleeasteye.net, abc.net.au, indianexpress.com, newsmax.com, yahoo.com]
- The pier was expected to deliver up to 150 truckloads of aid daily, but bad weather and the Israeli offensive in Rafah have hindered progress, and the pier’s impact on Gaza’s overall aid needs has been limited. [indianexpress.com, english.aawsat.com, newsmax.com, yahoo.com, bostonglobe.com]
- According to the National Review, the pier broke apart just two weeks after opening due to a storm in the Mediterranean Sea, and four boats used to transport supplies from the pier to the shore were affected, with two boats drifting off to the Israeli side of the border and two boats getting beached near the pier. [nationalreview.com]
- The National Review also reported that the construction of the pier resulted in noncombat injuries to three American service members and that the pier was not designed to withstand certain weather conditions. [nationalreview.com]
- Prior to the conflict, Gaza received 500 truckloads of aid daily, with a need to increase to 600 to alleviate food shortages and prevent famine. The aid brought through the pier has helped, but more assistance is required. [indianexpress.com]
- The Biden administration has acknowledged that the pier was never meant to be a total solution to Gaza’s humanitarian assistance problems, and any amount of aid is still considered helpful, despite challenges faced during construction and operation. [indianexpress.com]
Sources:
