In mid-March, trucks filled with aid for the 2 million Palestinians in Gaza were backed up at crossing points from Israel and Egypt. The aid, mainly food, is a lifeline for Gazans amid the humanitarian crisis in the enclave. Reports of imminent famine have prompted international pressure on Israel to facilitate aid transfers, with the United States airdropping food and announcing plans to build a pier for more aid access. However, U.N. officials accuse Israel of blocking supplies and using starvation as a weapon of war, while aid agencies cite Israeli red tape for delays.
Before reaching Gaza, aid shipments undergo Israeli checks, and delays can occur even after approval due to complex distribution processes and competing international demands. Aid can also be ransacked, hijacked by gangs, or held up at Israeli army checkpoints once inside Gaza. Half of the warehouses storing aid in Gaza are non-operational due to damage from the conflict, exacerbating the challenge of delivering aid to those in need. Despite the urgent need for assistance, the number of trucks entering Gaza daily has decreased since the war began.
The destruction of infrastructure in Gaza, including bakeries and farmland, has increased the need for aid as residents struggle to access basic necessities. Aid agencies estimate that Gaza requires 500 to 600 trucks of aid daily, far exceeding the current supply. While international air drops and sea deliveries have partially addressed the shortfall, land routes remain the primary mode of aid delivery. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report highlights the severity of the food crisis in Gaza, with households skipping meals and adults sacrificing their own meals to feed their children.
Aid delivery faces challenges inside Gaza as convoys are attacked or looted, and security is compromised by ongoing conflict. Warehouses storing aid have been damaged, reducing capacity, and the distribution process has been hampered by political tensions and administrative delays. Aid agencies struggle to negotiate their own security arrangements, and warehouses have been targeted by airstrikes, further complicating the delivery of aid to affected communities. With residents in southern Gaza facing severe shortages, requests to deliver aid to northern Gaza have often been denied by the Israeli military.
Suleiman al-Jaal, a local truck driver in Gaza, highlights the desperation of residents who lack basic necessities and are vulnerable to violence and insecurity. Despite the efforts of aid agencies and international organizations, the delivery of aid remains a complex and challenging process, rife with obstacles and delays. The ongoing conflict, destruction of infrastructure, and political tensions all contribute to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, leaving millions of Palestinians in dire need of assistance. The international community continues to pressure Israel to facilitate aid access, but challenges persist in delivering vital supplies to those most in need.
