A US army vessel has set off for Gaza carrying the first bits of  equipment to build a temporary port which aims to deliver more humanitarian aid to the region, according to US Central Command. 

The General Frank S Besson left Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia “less than 36 hours after President Biden announced the US would provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza by sea”, CENTCOM said. 

It comes after warnings of widespread famine among millions of Palestinians in Gaza.