US begins construction of pier off Gaza coast: Pentagon

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US has begun to construct a temporary pier off the Gaza coast to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed Thursday.

"I can confirm that US military vessels ... have begun to construct the initial stages of the temporary pier and causeway at sea are where the significant interest in this important effort," Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters.

Ryder said the Pentagon will soon provide more information.

The Pentagon announced in March that it would undertake an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier on the Gazan coast to deliver up to 2 million humanitarian aid meals per day.

The mission has a goal of beginning deliveries in approximately 60 days from March 8. It includes a floating pier -- an 1,800-foot-long causeway that will be attached to the shore and a group of logistic support vessels and barges that will transport the aid from the pier to the causeway, according to the Pentagon.