A vessel carrying nearly 200 tonnes of essential supplies departed from a port in Cyprus early on Tuesday, marking the start of a pioneering effort to establish a new sea route for aid delivery to Gaza, where a dire humanitarian crisis looms.

The charity ship named Open Arms set sail from Larnaca port in Cyprus, accompanied by a barge laden with staples like flour, rice, and protein. Operated by a Spanish charitable organization of the same name, the ship's destination upon arrival in Gaza has not been publicly disclosed.

Funded primarily by the United Arab Emirates, this mission is coordinated by the US-based charity World Central Kitchen (WCK), while the Spanish charity oversees the ship's logistics.

The objective is to create a consistent flow of aid to Gaza through a maritime route, as stated by WCK founder Jose Andres and CEO Erin Gore. This initiative operates independently from a US proposal to establish a floating pier near the Gaza coast for expedited humanitarian aid delivery. Instead, the focus is on direct assistance to Gaza, which has faced isolation since Israel's military response to an October 7 attack by Hamas.

Given the limited port infrastructure, WCK plans to construct a makeshift landing area in Gaza using materials salvaged from damaged buildings and rubble. Additionally, there are preparations underway to dispatch another 500 tonnes of aid from Cyprus to Gaza.