The three ships that make up the new humanitarian aid mission to Gaza from Larnaca continue on their way to their destination after leaving last night. Information from the Cyprus News Agency (CYPE) reports that the three ships, Open Arms, Jennifer and Ledra Dynamics, as well as the barge ARIS are moving normally towards their destination and are expected to arrive in Gaza tomorrow Monday.

It is recalled that the ships left on Saturday afternoon from the port of Larnaca, with the aim of delivering humanitarian aid to Northern Gaza.

According to yesterday’s statements by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kobos, at the KYPE, a total of 332 tons of humanitarian aid is transported with this mission.

He also noted that the mission also includes support equipment, namely a crane that will be used to unload the aid, and the mission is equipped with a crew to operate the crane.

He also noted that, in the meantime, preparations have begun for the gathering of aid for the next mission.

In a related announcement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates refers to the departure from Cyprus of the three ships for Gaza, after the improvement of the weather conditions, which are carrying hundreds of tons of food for Northern Gaza.

“This second shipment carries hundreds of tons, has enough food to prepare over a million meals, and includes self-sustaining and ready-to-eat items such as rice, pasta, flour, pulses, canned vegetables and proteins,” it says.

He also notes that the NGO World Central Kitchen has provided more than 3 million meals by land, air and sea to Palestinians who are facing famine.

“The UAE has delivered 26,000 tons of emergency supplies, including food, water and medical supplies, through 229 flights, 19 airdrops, 1,035 trucks and three ships,” notes the Foreign Ministry, emphasizing, however, that “while this initiative provides the Palestinians desperately needed food, opening land crossings remains paramount to preventing famine,” he concludes.

In this context, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, is making an official visit to Cyprus on April 1-2, to be informed, among other things, about the maritime humanitarian corridor and the “Amalthia” initiative.

As has been announced, on Monday evening Metsola will arrive at the Presidential Palace, where she will have a personal meeting with the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulidis.

On Tuesday morning, the President of the European Parliament will go to the House of Europe, where she will have a dialogue with Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot representatives of youth organizations from civil society on the subject of the European elections. Afterwards, he will go to the House of Representatives, where he will have a meeting with the President of the House.

At 11am, she will leave the Parliament and go to the port of Larnaca and then to the Search and Rescue Coordination Center, where President Christodoulidis will inform her about the “Amalthia” initiative.