Amid worsening hunger crisis, U.S. plans more airdrops of aid to Gaza

WASHINGTON — The airdrops of humanitarian aid into Gaza on March 2 cost about $665,000 and involved three U.S. and two Jordanian C-130 cargo planes, according to a congressional source briefed on the matter.

U.S. Central Command, which oversaw the operation, used mass texts to alert Palestinians that the aid was on its way, according to the source who was not authorized to speak publicly.

The operation was coordinated with Israel. About 38,000 meals were delivered in the parachute drops.

Initial reports show the airdrops have been successful, landing near the beach, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly. People in Gaza anticipated the drops, collected the packages once it was safe, and no violence was seen on the ground.

Aid 'not getting in fast enough' to Gaza

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed the use of text messages to alert people on the ground about the air drops. Other means of delivering aid are being examined, Ryder said. There are no plans to send U.S. troops into Gaza to deliver aid.

"Aid is not getting in fast enough," Ryder said.

The U.S. airdropped more humanitarian assistance into Gaza on Tuesday morning. Three C-130s carried 60 bundles with a total of more than 36,000 meals ready to eat, said John Kirby, the White House spokesman for national security issues.

The lack of food in Gaza has become dire. More than 2 million people there face food shortages, with more than 500,000 facing "catastrophe levels of food insecurity," according to the United Nations.

Contributing: Michael Collins

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US airdrops aid to Gaza, plans to more humanitarian assistance