Biden built Gaza aid pier despite internal warnings: Watchdog report
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Multiple USAID workers warned US President Biden that focusing on JLOTS would hinder diplomatic efforts to pressure "Israel" to allow humanitarian aid and assistance into Gaza amid the ongoing genocide.
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US President Joe Biden speaks at a program in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, on May 8, 2024. (AFP)
US President Joe Biden overruled internal warnings from his staff concerning the establishment of the floating pier off the coast of Gaza which was consistently met with failure, according to a watchdog report published on Tuesday.
Several officials from USAID, the country's humanitarian aid agency, had expressed their concerns about using the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) temporary pier since it would deflect from diplomatic efforts of pressuring "Israel" to lift its aid delivery restrictions in Gaza, USAID's Office of the Inspector General said in the recent report.
According to the report, "multiple USAID staff expressed concerns" that the JLOTS project "would detract from the Agency’s advocacy to open land crossings in Israel and Egypt," which were deemed "more efficient and proven avenues for delivering aid to Gaza."
Issues with the JLOTS initiative
Biden ordered the construction of JLOTS during his State of the Union speech back in March, months after "Israel" prohibited the entry of humanitarian aid and assistance into Gaza despite diplomatic efforts.
"Once the President issued the directive, the Agency’s focus was to use JLOTS as effectively as possible," the inspector general's office said.
On July 17, the US military marked the JLOTS mission "complete" after a series of issues that resulted in the temporary pier consistently being towed to an Israeli port for repairs.
The watchdog report highlighted that USAID's aid distribution was hindered by "external factors" following its completion in May, citing the Pentagon and the occupation forces' claims that "security requirements took precedence" over the agency's mission to administer aid to Gazans through the pier.
"In addition, issues related to operating in a conflict environment were compounded by weather, security, and humanitarian access challenges that affected how much assistance could enter the region through the maritime corridor and safely reach partner distribution centers in Gaza," it added.
As a result of these factors, the JLOTS initiative fell "short of meeting the U.S. government’s goal of providing enough aid to feed 500,000 people per month, or 1.5 million people over 3 months" since it was only functional 20 of its planned 90 days of use.
Essentially, only enough food was delivered to sustain 450,000 people for one month.
OCHA says 'Israel' impeding delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza
Much of the inability to deliver aid across Gaza has been due to the Israeli forces' bombing of safe zones and routes being used by aid organizations to deliver aid, among many other factors, showing a deliberate attempt to obstruct aid.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned last week that the ongoing Israeli military attacks and repeated "evacuation orders" continue to impede the delivery of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.
UN secretary-general's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated that including parts of Salah al-Din Road—a vital route for humanitarian missions—in the recent "evacuation order" issued on August 17 for parts of the Deir al-Balah governorate has made it nearly impossible for aid workers to travel along this major road.
The new "evacuation orders in Gaza impacted the Maghazi refugee camp, five schools, 14 water facilities, and 10 health sites," said Dujarric.
He added that the coastal road is not a viable alternative, noting that the beaches along this route are now crowded with temporary shelters for displaced Palestinians.
As a result, the movement of aid convoys along the coastal road has become extremely slow, and essential supplies and services, such as water transport, are not reaching those in need.
