Aid ship from Cyprus expected to arrive today
A humanitarian aid ship that left Cyprus two days ago for Gaza, will deliver 200 metric tonnes of items including food and water on Friday, the foreign ministry spokesman said on Thursday.
Speaking on CyBC, foreign ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis said that the ship will arrive on Friday morning, after leaving Cyprus on Tuesday to deliver the first batch of aid.
The ship left Cyprus towing a barge containing flour, rice, and protein. The mission was funded mostly by the United Arab Emirates and US-based charity World Central Kitchen.
The arrival is expected to coincide with the arrival of a US ship that will set up a temporary jetty, by means of which the cargo will be brought ashore.
Gotsis added on Thursday that a second ship of aid is already being prepared to leave Cyprus for Gaza.
“The important thing is that now there is a framework and common commitment from the foreign ministers of the countries that are supporting the Amalthea plan to increase attempts to provide aid to Gaza,” he said.
He added that next week there will also be a meeting of high-level officials by all interested states and organisations to further plan the Cyprus initiative.