A 106-tonne shipment of health supplies sent through the World Health Organization’s Humanitarian Bridge Initiative in Cyprus has arrived at Ashdod port in Israel and is now being prepared for onward distribution to Gaza. WHO described the delivery as a major operational milestone that strengthens its humanitarian logistics capacity across regions affected by the ongoing conflict, particularly in Gaza.
The Humanitarian Bridge Initiative is a joint effort between WHO offices in Cyprus and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, created to ensure the timely, scalable, and efficient delivery of essential medical supplies to Gaza by sea. The initiative operates under the framework of UN Security Council resolution 2720 (2023), which called for the creation of a UN mechanism to expand humanitarian aid through countries not directly involved in the conflict. The Government of Cyprus is leading the effort alongside the UN 2720 mechanism team, implemented by the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), helping to establish a neutral, transparent, and internationally coordinated maritime corridor for aid delivery.
WHO noted that the mechanism further strengthens Cyprus’s role as a strategic humanitarian logistics hub due to its close proximity to Gaza and its position within the European Union single market. By adding a maritime route to existing humanitarian corridors, the initiative is expected to reduce delivery delays and ease the operational bottlenecks that have previously limited humanitarian access to the enclave. WHO said the bridge will continue to support the prepositioning, consolidation, and rapid dispatch of essential supplies for Gaza, while also enhancing readiness for health emergencies and disasters across the wider region.
The shipment arrives as the UN and its partners continue to deliver critical aid to Gaza despite severe access restrictions, with the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing remaining the only cargo entry point open from Israel. On Tuesday alone, more than 270,000 litres of fuel were brought in to keep essential humanitarian services functioning. During the same period, the Food and Agriculture Organization collected animal fodder, while UNICEF retrieved more than 240 pallets of aid, including nutrition supplies, medicines, and personal care kits containing items such as sanitary pads, toothpaste, and body wash.
At the same time, FAO has announced an expansion of its cash assistance programme aimed at reviving local agricultural production by supporting an additional 1,000 farmers in Gaza. This follows a successful pilot project last year in which 200 farmers produced more than 500 metric tonnes of fresh vegetables with support from the Humanitarian Fund for the occupied Palestinian territory. FAO estimates that the expanded assistance could help generate around 5,000 metric tonnes of vegetables, enough to feed approximately 95,000 people for a year, while also helping to reduce food insecurity and create livelihoods through employment and income generation.
