Von der Leyen said a pilot test run of food aid
collected by a charity group and supported by the United Arab Emirates could be
leaving Cyprus as early as Friday from the port of Larnaca in Cyprus.
"We are
launching this Cyprus maritime corridor together, the European Union, the
United Arab Emirates, and the United States," Von der Leyen said after a
visit to facilities in Cyprus.
"We are now
very close to opening this corridor, hopefully this Saturday-Sunday and I'm
very glad to see an initial pilot will be launched today," she said
alongside Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.
One aid group,
World Central Kitchen (WCK), is currently gathering food supplies in Larnaca
for the people of Gaza, with support from the UAE.
Earlier,
Prime Minister of Palestine, Mohammed Shtayye, announced that the Palestinian
authorities have proposed to organize a maritime humanitarian corridor between
Cyprus and the Gaza Strip.
"We demand that a humanitarian corridor be opened to
Gaza and not limited to the Rafah checkpoint. We have proposed to open a
maritime humanitarian corridor between Cyprus and the Gaza Strip," Al
Hadath TV channel quoted him as saying.
