On Thursday, senior officials from over thirty-five countries, along with multiple international agencies, convened in Cyprus to discuss the enhancement of the "Amalthea Plan."
This initiative aims to facilitate the delivery of additional humanitarian aid to Gaza through a newly proposed maritime corridor, supplementing existing aid routes through Egypt, Jordan, and Israel.
The meeting, which follows the Joint Statements issued on March 8 and March 14, 2024, focused on technical discussions to expedite the implementation of this vital corridor. Notably, the United Nations Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Ms. Sigrid Kaag, outlined how the maritime route could serve as a critical gateway for scaling up the flow of aid into Gaza, under the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 2720 (2023). Kaag also highlighted the potential establishment of a Secretariat to facilitate, coordinate, monitor, and verify aid distribution through this new passage.
Key discussions at the meeting included the launch of the "Amalthea Fund," inviting contributions to support the corridor's operations, and the exploration of a UN-managed multi-donor fund to ensure sustainable and flexible funding mechanisms for aid delivery.
The gathering also underscored the imperative of protecting civilian lives in accordance with international humanitarian law, emphasizing the collective responsibility to ensure that assistance reaches those in dire need within Gaza. Further consultations with core partners are expected in the near future to solidify the framework and operational details of the maritime corridor initiative.
This development marks a significant step towards international collaboration in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, offering a new avenue to amplify aid delivery and support the Palestinian people amidst ongoing challenges.
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