A logistics support vessel loads humanitarian cargo transferred from the USNS Stockham in June for transport to the JLOTS pier connected in Gaza.
Photo: Chief Mate Jake George, USNS 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez
On June 19, U.S. Central Command personnel supporting the mission to deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians, re-anchored the temporary pier to the beach in Gaza.
U.S. Central Command (U.S. CENTCOM) had announced June 14 the Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS) pier was being disconnected and towed to the Port of Ashod, Israel. The temporary pier was relocated to avoid expected high seas and to ensure the structural integrity of the pier and safety of U.S. service members. At no time did U.S. troops enter Gaza.
Trucks carrying humanitarian assistance across the temporary pier resumed delivery again on June 20, and approximately 656 metric tons (1.4 million pounds) of aid were delivered to the beach in Gaza. This was so far the largest single-day delivery of aid to date.
As of June 20, more than 4,160 metric tons (9.1 million pounds) of humanitarian aid in total had been delivered from the pier to the marshaling area, where the cargo can be collected by humanitarian organizations for onward delivery into Gaza.
Humanitarian aid cargo aboard the USNS Stockham is moved to the ship’s stern ramp to be transferred to a floating platform transported and deployed by the USNS Stockham to be embarked aboard logistics support vessels and carried to the JLOTS pier connected in Gaza. More than 1,000 pallets of humanitarian cargo were delivered by the USNS Stockham via the JLOTS pier for distribution to the people of Gaza in June.
Photos Courtesy of Captain Paul Ginnane
