Aid Delivery to Gaza Increases but Remains Insufficient Amid Crisis
Israel announced on March 10, 2024, it would ease restrictions to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. This decision followed international outrage over widespread hunger and malnutrition-related deaths amid ongoing military operations. Despite the promise of increased aid, humanitarian organizations report that the supplies reaching the enclave remain insufficient to meet the urgent needs of the population.
Humanitarian aid is currently entering Gaza through three primary channels: airdrops, distributions by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), and operations facilitated by the United Nations and other organizations using newly established humanitarian corridors. The GHF has faced criticism for its limited distribution efforts and for the violence that has occurred near its aid sites, with hundreds of casualties reported.
From March 10 to 13, the GHF distributed approximately 1 million meals, with an additional 1.2 million meals provided from March 11 to 13 and 1.3 million on March 14. On March 15, GHF reported distributing at least 1.7 million meals. With a population of around 2 million, these distributions average to less than one meal per person per day.
According to the Israeli military branch responsible for overseeing aid, known as COGAT, an average of nearly 230 trucks have entered Gaza each day from March 10 to 14. COGAT claims that these trucks complement “hundreds” already in Gaza, though it has not disclosed the exact number of trucks awaiting collection. Reports indicate that at least 920 aid trucks were collected and distributed by the UN and other organizations during this period.
Prior to the current military offensive, approximately 500 trucks carrying aid entered Gaza daily, according to the British Red Cross and other organizations. A recent graph illustrates how aid shipments surged during a ceasefire before plummeting significantly due to the blockade imposed by Israel.
While COGAT has provided some information about aid trucks entering Gaza, it has not updated its online dashboard since March 11, despite ongoing international attention on this matter. The World Food Programme (WFP) noted that only about two-thirds of the food aid it has requested from Israeli authorities has been approved since the start of tactical pauses.
The hunger crisis in Gaza worsened dramatically in March 2023 when Israel imposed a blockade that restricted aid entry. Although the blockade was lifted in May 2023, the amount of aid permitted has remained severely limited. Most aid has been distributed by the GHF, which has faced accusations of mismanagement.
In response to the situation, humanitarian organizations argue that Israeli restrictions hinder their capacity to distribute the limited aid they manage to secure. They emphasize the need for expedited approvals and safe passage for trucks carrying aid, alongside adherence to established rules of engagement to ensure the safety of humanitarian convoys.
A warning from Jeanette Bailey, the International Rescue Committee’s global practice lead, highlights the gravity of the situation: “This is not an adequate response… A gradual entry of aid is not going to be adequate to prevent us from entering into a full-blown famine.” The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) corroborated this concern, indicating that the “worst-case scenario of famine” is unfolding in Gaza.
The IPC has called for immediate action to halt hostilities and facilitate a large-scale humanitarian response. The ongoing violence has resulted in civilian casualties and complicated the already perilous distribution of aid.
Since late May 2023, over 1,300 Palestinians have reportedly been killed while attempting to access food. According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 859 of these deaths occurred near GHF sites, and 514 occurred along food convoy routes. The majority of these fatalities have been attributed to the Israeli military, underscoring the dangers faced by those seeking assistance.
The OHCHR characterized the hunger crisis in Gaza as “human-made” and a direct consequence of policies imposed by Israel. The ongoing conflict not only results in the loss of life but also exacerbates the challenges of delivering essential aid to those in desperate need.
