By Diyar Guldogan
WASHINGTON (AA) - A temporary pier being constructed off the Gazan coast that will deliver humanitarian aid will be operational "in the coming days," the Pentagon said Tuesday.
"I'm not going to go into specifics here from the podium, but again in the coming days, I think you can expect to see it operational," spokesman Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters.
Ryder said it is still off the Port of Ashdod and has not been attached to the beach.
"The US, as part of an international effort in coordination with the UN and the World Food Program will begin facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza via the Cyprus maritime corridor.
"The US government and other international donors are providing aid commodities for delivery from Cyprus to the beach and Gaza by way of US and partner nation military and civilian vessels and a temporary floating pier," he said.
The effort is intended to relieve the suffering of Gazan, said Ryder.
"We call on all parties not to interfere with the delivery of life-saving assistance," he stressed.
Asked if any US naval vessels are going to be providing security to the operation, Ryder said: "There will be ... as you know, we do have naval vessels, destroyers in the region that can provide assistance."
"As this peer becomes operational, and as it becomes the viable route for humanitarian assistance to get into Gaza, that you'll see other groups coming, wanting to participate in and contribute aid via this mechanism," he added.
The Pentagon announced March 8 that it would undertake an emergency mission to establish the pier to deliver up to 2 million meals per day.
The mission includes a floating pier -- an 1,800-foot-long causeway -- that will be attached to the shore and a group of logistic support vessels.
Israel's onslaught on Gaza, which began after an Oct. 7 incursion by the Palestinian group, Hamas, has devastated the enclave and plunged 2.3 million residents into a humanitarian catastrophe.