President Biden's decision to greenlight a $230 million pier project for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza has come under scrutiny, as operational difficulties led to its premature decommissioning after only a fraction of the intended aid reached those in need.
The New York Post reported that during his March 7 State of the Union address, President Joe Biden announced an ambitious plan to construct a $230 million pier to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The White House projected that the pier would help feed an estimated 1.5 million Palestinians over three months, addressing critical shortages of food, water, and medical supplies in the region.
The project, however, was fraught with challenges from the outset. USAID, tasked with organizing the pier's operations, had to scramble to implement the project due to the lack of pre-announcement planning.
On March 27, USAID formally requested assistance from the Pentagon to facilitate the maritime delivery of aid, underscoring the urgency and complexity of the mission.
Even before the pier became operational, numerous concerns were raised about its feasibility.
Multiple USAID staff members expressed worries that the pier would detract from more efficient land transport methods already in place. These concerns were echoed by the United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP), which warned of significant safety, security, and risk concerns.
The WFP documentation noted that the lack of community buy-in among Palestinians for the maritime corridor could severely compromise its operations.
Despite these warnings, the project moved forward, and the pier began operating. Unfortunately, the operational period was short-lived.
Rough weather and high seas limited the pier's functionality, allowing it to operate for only 20 days. During this time, the pier delivered aid to just 450,000 Palestinians, less than a third of the projected target.
The challenges did not end with the weather. The Defense Department, which played a crucial role in the pier's operations, faced significant difficulties using the pier in an active combat zone.
The rough seas and high winds not only hindered operations but also led to several injuries among service members involved in the project. Three service members were injured, with one in critical condition.
As the situation on the ground deteriorated, humanitarian staff reported multiple instances of looting after aid was collected from the beach and transported into Gaza.
Attacks on WFP warehouses and incidents where drivers were detained or shot further complicated the distribution of aid. These security concerns, combined with overcrowded roads and limited safe, passable land routes, created significant challenges in moving aid from the pier to UN warehouses for distribution.
Faced with these insurmountable challenges, the pier was decommissioned on July 17, less than four months after President Biden's announcement.
The decision to decommission the pier was influenced by the ongoing security risks, operational difficulties, and the failure to achieve the intended humanitarian goals.
Despite the decommissioning, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains dire.
USAID reported that approximately 1.9 million displaced Palestinians still face unsanitary, overcrowded conditions alongside acute shortages of essential supplies.
A global authority on food security has indicated that about 96% of Gaza’s population faces severe food insecurity and a high risk of famine.
The project, initially seen as a bold move to address the humanitarian needs in Gaza, ultimately fell short of its goals.
An Inspector General (IG) report highlighted the various issues that plagued the project, noting that the challenges of operating in a conflict environment were compounded by weather, security, and humanitarian access challenges.
The IG report also pointed out that concerns about the perceived militarization of the pier and Palestinian community views about the neutrality of humanitarian operations further limited the distribution of aid.
These issues, combined with the operational difficulties, led to the project's premature end.
