Biden announces airdrop aid to Gaza amid Israeli restrictions
2:51 AM EST, March 2, 2024
During a bilateral meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House, Biden revealed plans to start airdropping humanitarian aid "in the coming days." He expressed a firm determination to assist the suffering civilians, stating, "the USA will stop at nothing" to do so, and highlighted the current aid flow to Gaza as inadequate.
This announcement arrives amid restricted humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip due to Israeli bombings and border crossing limitations. These restrictions have placed the enclave on the brink of famine, according to the UN. In a similar effort, Jordan has already contributed, dropping approximately 73,000 pounds of food on Thursday.
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby shared that the US would collaborate with Jordan on this initiative, clarifying it would involve more than a single flight. He cautioned, drawing on his military background, that "this is one of the most difficult military operations, because so many parameters have to be exactly right." The initial drops will primarily consist of military food rations.
"The last resort"
"The Washington Post" reports that humanitarian aid experts consider food dropping a method of last resort due to its inefficiency and high cost.
"I believe that drops are the way of last resort to deliver aid," said Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). He emphasized that it does not provide a lasting solution to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, advocating instead for the opening of border crossings.
A tragic incident emerged on Thursday around a private humanitarian aid convoy in northern Gaza when a crowd of Palestinians surrounded a vehicle loaded with food supplies. Local authorities reported that over 100 people died, and more than 700 were injured in the chaos.
In his discussion with Meloni, Biden outlined the USA's ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire that would permit hostages' release and aid delivery across the Gaza Strip. The Italian Prime Minister voiced her support for these actions and underscored that addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains a top priority for her administration.
