**Ensuring Humanitarian Aid Access to Gaza Strip Amidst Crisis**
An Egyptian truck driver uncovers humanitarian aid for inspection en route to Gaza Strip at Kerem Shalom Crossing in Israel on December 22, 2023. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the situation is dire:
– 1.7 million people displaced
– 2.2 million facing imminent famine risk
– Over 60% of housing in Gaza damaged
– Approximately 17,000 children separated from their families
With a significant population seeking refuge in Rafah, southern Gaza, and limited water supply due to damaged pipes, the need for urgent humanitarian aid is escalating daily.
Jonathan Fowler from UNRWA emphasizes the necessity for around 500 trucks of aid per day to meet the basic needs of Gazans. However, the current reality falls short, with only 300 trucks passing through on the best days, and sometimes as few as 10 trucks. Most aid enters Gaza through Israel, particularly at crossings like Kerem Shalmon in the south.
Tracking the aid flow poses challenges, with discrepancies in reported numbers between different organizations. For instance, while COGAT reported 131 trucks entering Gaza on a particular day, UNRWA figures indicated only nine trucks. These inconsistencies can be attributed to various factors, including time lags in reporting.
Experts observing the aid distribution note increasing discrepancies, complicating efforts to assess the actual aid reaching Gaza. Restrictions imposed by Israel, such as blocking certain supplies over security concerns or delays in inspections, further hinder the process. Additionally, internal conflicts and security issues within Gaza impede the smooth distribution of aid.
The recent halt in aid deliveries by the World Food Program in northern Gaza due to security risks underscores the challenges faced on the ground. Despite resuming deliveries after a brief pause, the teams encountered difficulties in distribution, including attempts by desperate individuals to access aid forcefully.
In conclusion, the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid to Gaza remain critical amidst the ongoing crisis, necessitating coordinated efforts to ensure efficient access and allocation of resources.
Challenges in Providing Humanitarian Aid to Gaza
Amidst ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israel’s military offensive following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals in southern Israel has intensified. Additionally, Hamas militants have taken 240 individuals hostage, with 134 still held captive.
Israel’s retaliatory actions have been relentless, marked by frequent incursions and missile strikes, resulting in the loss of over 29,000 Palestinian lives, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry.
Impact of Israeli Military Operations on Civilians in Gaza
Amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza, civilian areas such as apartment buildings, markets, and hospitals have become targets. The Israeli military claims that Hamas utilizes these locations for cover or as operational bases, intensifying the risks faced by civilians.
Trapped amidst the conflict, civilians in Gaza have limited safe havens to seek refuge. In Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, the Israeli military has conducted multiple operations and is signaling a potential full-scale invasion. Recent raids led to the rescue of two hostages by the Israeli military, but tragically resulted in the loss of 74 lives, as reported by health officials in Gaza.
Tragic Consequences of Israeli Airstrikes on Civilians
On a harrowing Sunday in Rafah, an Israeli missile strike targeted a home where approximately 25 individuals sought shelter. Surviving family members recounted the devastating aftermath, with five confirmed fatalities, five survivors, and the remainder missing, including a newlywed couple, Mariam Abdusalam Al-Sayyad Deeb and Liwaa Abdullah Ibrahim Jomaa, who had just celebrated their marriage.
One distraught family member, Raed Al-Sayyad Abdusalam Deeb, shared the heart-wrenching account of searching for loved ones amidst the rubble. He lamented, “They saved who they could. There are still dead under the rubble.”
Describing the victims trapped under the debris, he recalled, “There were women and children, a complete family … an elderly mother, the children’s grandmother, their aunt, mother, uncle.” He emphasized the innocence of the victims, stating, “With no warning, they have nothing to do with the resistance, they have nothing to do with anything. They were unarmed.”
As emotions ran high, Abdusalam Deeb’s brother, Abdusalam Deeb, clutched a photo of his missing daughter, expressing his anguish, “My daughter is under the rubble. I haven’t seen my daughter yet. I wish I could see her. I wish I could say goodbye to her.”
Anas Baba contributed to this report from Gaza.
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