United Arab Emirates and World Central Kitchen Complete Food Delivery to Northern Gaza; Aid brought to Gaza by Sea in Historic First

Tue 19/3/2024
General
The UAE and WCK, with the support of Cyprus, partner for first maritime delivery to Gaza and deliver aid to the North 

The United Arab Emirates and the World Central Kitchen announced they successfully completed the delivery of food aid to Gaza by sea, and delivered it to Northern Gaza. 

The mission – Operation Safeena – in partnership with Open Arms and with the support of the government of Cyprus departed from Cyprus and docked just off the coast of Gaza, marking the first maritime delivery of food aid to Gaza since October. 

The bulk food aid was delivered to Northern Gaza this morning in cooperation with a World Food Program convoy, that also carried a load of WCK ready-to-eat meals. 

“We are grateful for this robust partnership along with Open Arms and the support of the government of Cyprus to help make this latest effort a success. Bringing food by sea to Gaza is a critical and long overdue step. Food and water are a universal right. The dire humanitarian situation in Gaza requires a massive response – including by sea, air and land. We are pursuing additional maritime food aid deliveries and look forward to working with the international community to do all that is possible to urgently address this challenge,” said Her Excellency Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy, United Arab Emirates Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Erin Gore, Chief Executive Officer, World Central Kitchen.

This first maritime delivery carried almost 200 tons of rice, flour and proteins. Another 240 tons of food aid are ready for a second sailing to Gaza from the Larnaca, Cyprus port. 

Since October, WCK and partners have served over 39 million meals in Gaza and are constantly adapting to meet the various challenges and needs, with WCK’s efforts accounting for more than 60% of all NGO-provided humanitarian aid in Gaza.

To date, the UAE has delivered 21,000 tonnes of urgent supplies, including food, water, and medical items, dispatched through 216 flights, 10 airdrops, 964 trucks, and two ships.

Related News

Tue 17/6/2025
Minister News
Abdullah bin Zayed meets Chairman of US Blackstone Group

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Stephen Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone, one of the world’s leading investment groups.

View Details
Tue 17/6/2025
General
UAE leaders congratulate President of Iceland on National Day

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a congratulatory message to President Halla Tómasdóttir of Iceland on the occasion of her country's National Day.

View Details
Tue 17/6/2025
General
H.E. Reem Al Hashimy Leads High-Level Delegation to Ireland to Mark 50 Years of Bilateral Relations

Her Excellency Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, led a high-level delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government entities on an official visit to Dublin, Ireland, from 12-13 of June.

View Details
Tue 17/6/2025
General
UAE Condemns Attack on Yelewata in Nigeria

The UAE has condemned in the strongest terms the attack that targeted Yelewata in Benue State in Nigeria, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of more than 150 innocent people.

View Details
Did you find this content useful?

You can help us improve by providing your feedback about your experience.

Have you used our services at our service centre or digitally recently?