What Crew Members Say About Open-Arms

The humanitarian ship 'Open Arms' has been dispatched to Valencia in response to the tragic aftermath of storm Dana. Departing from Tarragona on the afternoon of November 6, 2024, the vessel carries a crew of 15 to 20 dedicated members and is equipped with semi-rigid boats. It is expected to reach the Valencian coastline between November 7 and November 8. This mission is focused on locating potential victims who may have been swept out to sea by the turbulent currents. In addition, the organization has proactively sent a team to Valencia in recent days to offer ground support and aid in the ongoing search efforts.

A humanitarian convoy featuring the 'Jennifer' and the 'Open Arms' has arrived back in Larnaca on April 3, carrying 240 tons of food aid intended for Gaza. This decision came in the wake of a tragic incident on April 1, when Israeli airstrikes claimed the lives of World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers. The 'Jennifer' anchored just off the coast, while the 'Open Arms' had previously docked at port. This shipment was part of a larger delivery of approximately 340 tons that had departed from Cyprus to Gaza on March 30. The slain aid workers were in the midst of unloading a 100-ton shipment from another barge that also originated from Cyprus. Following this heart-wrenching event, WCK has suspended its operations in Gaza and redirected its fleet back to Cyprus to assess the situation. For more details and a photo, check out the full report: https://gcaptain.com/gaza-aid-ships-return-to-cyprus-after-ngo-worker-deaths/

On April 2, 2024, the aid vessel 'Jennifer' along with the tugs 'Open Arms' and 'Ledra Dynamic' returned to Larnaca after a devastating airstrike in the Gaza Strip that claimed the lives of seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) employees. The fleet managed to unload only one barge, which contained approximately 110 pallets of humanitarian supplies, before the convoy was struck while on land. The 'Jennifer' departed without accomplishing its mission, carrying about 250 tons of essential relief goods. In response to this tragic incident, WCK has halted its operations in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the attack on foreign aid workers during a video statement, describing it as a "tragic case of an accidental hit by our armed forces against innocent people in the Gaza Strip." Condemnation of the incident came from Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulidis and EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who met in Nicosia on the same day. They expressed their outrage but also emphasized the necessity of continuing aid to the beleaguered population in Gaza. For further details, refer to the report: https://www.gmx.net/magazine/politik/tod-helfern-schiff-bringt-hilfsgueter-zurueck-zypern-39500376