Buzz surrounds Cypriot seaborne aid plan for Gaza

The spokesperson for the Cypriot government announced on Wednesday that Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, will be visiting Cyprus to examine the facilities at the port of Larnaca. This visit is significant as the port is expected to be a departure point for ships carrying humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

According to spokesman Constantinos Letymbiotis, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides will accompany Von der Leyen during her inspection this coming Friday.

Letymbiotis highlighted that the Cypriot proposal to facilitate a consistent flow of large-scale aid to Gaza, located about 240 miles away, has been receiving increasing attention and support within the European Union and from other international players.

Eric Mamer, an EU spokesman, expressed optimism on Wednesday, indicating that the initiative to open this aid corridor to Gaza might be realized very soon.

Balazs Ujvari, another spokesman for the EU Commission, elaborated that this sea route could enhance the EU’s ability to transport more humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza. He mentioned the potential for airdrops as a contingency plan, though he emphasized such measures would not be as effective as land access to the region, which is crucial for aid delivery.

Ujvari also noted that the EU has already conducted approximately 40 flights to deliver aid to Gaza, primarily through Egypt.