From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Biden ignored warnings Gaza aid pier would be boondoggle, comptroller charges
An internal report says US President Joe Biden ordered the construction of a temporary pier to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza over the objections of some staffers for the US Agency for International Development, who expressed concerns that the effort would be difficult to pull off and undercut efforts to persuade Israel to open land crossings to get food into the territory.
The $230 million military-run project known as the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore system, or JLOTS, only operated for about 20 days, plagued by bad weather and security issues. Aid groups pulled out of the project last month.
“Multiple USAID staff expressed concerns that the focus on using JLOTS would detract from the Agency’s advocacy for opening land crossings, which were seen as more efficient and proven methods of transporting aid into Gaza,” according to the report from USAID’s inspector general. “However, once the President issued the directive, the Agency’s focus was to use JLOTS as effectively as possible.”
The Biden administration set a goal of the US sea route and pier providing food to feed 1.5 million of Gaza’s people for 90 days. It fell short, bringing in enough to feed about 450,000 people for a month before shutting down.
US National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett says the project “had a real impact” of getting food to hungry Palestinian civilians despite the obstacles.
The watchdog report also alleges the United States failed to honor a commitment it made with the World Food Program to place the pier in northern Gaza, as part of a deal to get the UN agency to agree to take part in distributing supplies from the pier into Palestinian hands.
WFP staffers told the USAID watchdog that it was their understanding the US military chose that location because it allowed better security for the pier and the military itself.
