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Palestinian Arabs

Aid Delivery to Gaza Strips: A Grim Situation Amid War and Restrictions

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has left over 2.3 million Palestinians trapped, facing rampant hunger, disease, and destruction. The delivery of aid to the besieged territory has been severely restricted, with only 39% of planned humanitarian missions being facilitated by Israeli authorities in northern Gaza, and 53% in southern Gaza. Top UN officials have issued pleas for unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance, while Israel claims its aid efforts are "unparalleled." Despite concerns about aid delivery, humanitarian agencies have reported ongoing hostilities, access constraints, and damaged infrastructure as key factors obstructing aid delivery.

Key Takeaways:

  • Only 1,559 trucks entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom and Rafah border crossing in August, down from the pre-war average of 500 trucks per day.
  • Between 1 and 15 September, 37 out of 94 planned humanitarian missions for northern Gaza were facilitated, while 25 (27%) were denied access.
  • In southern Gaza, out of 243 coordinated humanitarian movements, 129 (53%) were facilitated, while 41 (17%) were denied access.
  • Top UN officials, including Sigrid Kaag, have emphasized the need for improved aid delivery, citing the urgent need for food, shelter, and healthcare.
  • Israeli ambassador Danny Danon claims Israel's humanitarian efforts are "unparalleled," with over one million tonnes of aid, including 800,000 tonnes of food aid, having been delivered.
  • Humanitarian agencies have reported ongoing hostilities, access constraints, and damaged infrastructure as key factors obstructing aid delivery.
  • More than 200 UN staff have been killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza, with some staff fearful of further attacks.
  • Urgent needs persist in the northern strip, with OCHA unable to access the area for 28 days.
  • Partners would need two years to deliver the equivalent of basic winterisation support needed now for south Gaza, if the current rate of shelter-related items delivery continues.

Statistics:

  • 2.3 million Palestinians are trapped in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict.
  • 1,559 trucks entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom and Rafah border crossing in August.
  • 37 out of 94 planned humanitarian missions for northern Gaza were facilitated, while 25 (27%) were denied access.
  • 129 out of 243 coordinated humanitarian movements were facilitated in southern Gaza, while 41 (17%) were denied access.
  • More than 200 UN staff have been killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza.
  • Only 2 truckloads of shelter-related items per week are entering south Gaza, while at least 25 truckloads per week are needed.
  • Partners would need two years to deliver the equivalent of basic winterisation support needed now for south Gaza.

Sources:

  • UN News: "How aid is (and is not) getting into Gaza"
  • M2 PressWIRE: "How aid is (and is not) getting into Gaza"
  • OCHA: Situation update from the UN humanitarian coordination agency
  • UNRWA: Statement on the sanitation disaster in Gaza
  • WFP: Statement on suspending operations due to Israeli forces firing on its aid convoy.

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