Second shipment of food, aid departs Cyprus for Gaza as concerns of famine grow

A three-ship convoy departed Cyprus for Gaza early Saturday, with 400 tons of food and other supplies, the second delivery of the kind recently as concerns about widespread famine in the region grow.

The aid deliveries are organized by World Central Kitchen (WCK). The boats are carrying ready-to-eat items like rice, pasta, flour, legumes, canned vegetables and proteins that could prepare more than 1 million meals, The Associated Press reported.

The shipment also included dates, which are traditionally eaten to break the daily fast during Ramadan, which ends April 8, per the news wire.

The convoy is the second shipment from WCK and the organization’s founder, celebrity chef José Andrés. The first ship carrying aid reached the shores of Gaza on March 16 and the organization promised more would be coming.

The ship belongs to Spain’s Open Arms aid group and used a sea corridor launched by international donors to supply Gaza with more aid.

The United Nations has warned that famine could occur in northern Gaza as early as this month. The World Food Programme (WFP) said in a new report that famine is “imminent” since the entire population is facing crisis levels of food insecurity.

Earlier this month, President Biden announced that the U.S. would deliver more aid by air and sea, but humanitarian officials say it’s nowhere near enough. The White House also announced the U.S. would build a temporary port on the outskirts of Gaza to boost aid efforts.

The war began on Oct. 7 between Israel and Hamas after the militant group launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing over 1,200 Israelis and taking more than 240 hostages. Since the onset of the fighting, more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, the Gaza Health Ministry reports.