Cyprus dispatches aid for Gaza, says distribution under UN watch

Cyprus has dispatched 1,200 metric tons of humanitarian aid for Gaza by sea via Ashdod in Israel, its foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

The pre-screened cargo would be transferred without additional security checks on arrival in Ashdod and with international humanitarian organisation World Central Kitchen the final contractor and distributor, the Cyprus Foreign Ministry said.

"The entire undertaking is under the auspices of the U.N. delivery mechanism," it said.

Cyprus and Malta contributed the bulk of aid, and there were contributions from organisations from the United States, Italy, the Sovereign Order of Malta and Kuwait. Input of the United Arab Emirates to the operation was essential, Cyprus said.

The east Mediterranean island has been used to transit aid to Gaza in the past. Facilities on the island remained at the disposal of the international community as an additional humanitarian channel, the foreign ministry said.