The United Nations has reported that no humanitarian aid has been distributed in Gaza, even though aid lorries have begun crossing the border following an 11-week blockade. On Tuesday, Israeli officials confirmed that 93 trucks entered Gaza, delivering essential supplies such as flour, baby food, medical equipment, and pharmaceutical drugs. However, the UN stated that despite the trucks arriving at the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing, the aid has not yet reached those in need.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric explained that a team was on standby for several hours, waiting for Israeli permission to access the area. Unfortunately, they were unable to transfer the supplies into their warehouse. Israel had agreed on Sunday to permit a limited amount of food to enter Gaza, where international experts are warning of an impending famine.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza escalates, international pressure on Israel has intensified. The UK government announced it would suspend trade talks, condemning Israel's military actions as "morally unjustifiable." Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer characterized the situation in Gaza as "intolerable." Concurrently, the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, indicated that the bloc would reassess its trade agreements with Israel in light of its conduct in the region.
Dujarric noted that the aid distribution process has been complicated by Israel's requirements, which mandate that the UN offload supplies on the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing and then reload them separately after securing access for their teams within Gaza. While the delivery of the supplies is a positive step, he emphasized that it represents only a "drop in the ocean" compared to the enormous needs of the population. UN agencies estimate that approximately 600 trucks a day are necessary to begin addressing Gaza's chronic humanitarian crisis.
Earlier, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher warned that thousands of infants in Gaza could perish if aid is not allowed to enter promptly. Speaking to the BBC, Fletcher stated, "There are 14,000 babies that will die in the next 48 hours unless we can reach them." When questioned about this alarming figure, he mentioned that strong teams were operational in medical centers and schools, but details were not elaborated upon.
The BBC sought clarification on Fletcher's claim from the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), which highlighted the urgency of delivering supplies to save an estimated 14,000 babies suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Gaza. This need arises as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report warns of a potential increase in severe malnutrition cases among children aged six to 59 months over the next year.
UNOCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke reiterated the dire circumstances, stating, "We know for a fact that there are babies who are in urgent life-saving need of these supplements." He emphasized that the lack of nutrition for these infants, whose mothers are unable to feed themselves, places them in mortal danger.
Last week, the Hamas-run health ministry reported that 57 children have died from malnutrition during the past 11 weeks. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged Israel's decision to allow some aid into Gaza, expressing his satisfaction during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting. He recognized concerns regarding the quantity of aid but emphasized the positive nature of the recent decision.
On Monday, leaders from the UK, France, and Canada issued a joint statement urging the Israeli government to cease military operations and facilitate the immediate entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Following this, the UK also announced sanctions against several prominent Israeli settlers and settler-linked organizations.
The military campaign in Gaza was initiated by Israel in response to a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. As the conflict continues, the health ministry in Gaza reports that at least 53,475 people have lost their lives since the onset of hostilities, including 3,340 individuals since Israel resumed its offensive.
