Aid vessel to Gaza left Cyprus

A vessel carrying some 200 tons of aid for Gaza left Cyprus on Tuesday, as part of a joint aid project known as “Amalthea.” The ship owned by Open Arms, a Spanish non-governmental organization had left the Larnaca port in Cyprus, towing a barge loaded with food, water and pharmaceuticals.

The Cypriot President said more aid was expected to be shipped soon. Upon arrival in Gaza, the aid will be received by the World Central Kitchen, also an NGO which will help distribute it to the local people facing dire food shortages.

The aid project was jointly activated by the European Commission President and the President of Cyprus on 8th March in Larnaca and later endorsed in a joint statement by the European Commission, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, the United Kingdom, Greece, Italy and the Netherlands.