US says 820.5 tons of aid delivered via temporary pier to Gaza as of May 22

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said Thursday that 820.5 metric tons of humanitarian aid was delivered via a temporary pier to Gaza as of May 22.

"U.S. Central Command personnel continue to team up with @USAID and the UN to deliver aid to the people of Gaza via a temporary pier affixed to the beach," CENTCOM said on X.

It said 150 metric tons was delivered by CENTCOM personnel from the sea to the beach transfer point on Wednesday.

Aid distributed from the beach transfer point to the UN warehouse totaled 506 metric tons as of May 22, CENTCOM added.

Last Friday, CENTCOM announced that trucks carrying humanitarian aid had begun moving ashore via a temporary pier.

A UN official said Tuesday that humanitarian assistance has not been carried via the pier to Gaza since Saturday after crowds of needy people intercepted trucks, which paved the way for the discussion of new routes for the aid delivery.

"On Friday, there were about 10 trucks that made it. On Saturday, there were 16 trucks that left the floating pier. But 11 of those trucks never made it to the warehouse. Crowds had stopped the trucks at various points along the way," spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

The Pentagon also announced on Tuesday that there have been discussions between the US, Israel and the UN, as well as joint efforts to identify alternative routes for the safe movement of staff and cargo.