22
May
May
AID CONVOY ENTERS GAZA AS ISRAELI BLOCKADE EASES, BUT UN WARNS OF INADEQUATE SUPPLIES
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CapitalTimesNews / 2 weeks
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- 2 min read
A convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid has entered the Gaza Strip, bringing relief to the besieged enclave after weeks of global outcry over Israel’s blockade of essential supplies. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) reported that 90 trucks entered Gaza, while other reports quoted 87 trucks. The aid convoy includes vital supplies such as flour, water, medicines, and other consumables. The resumption of aid follows a three-week blockade that prohibited food, medicine, water, and other humanitarian necessities from entering the strip. The return of flour will enable bakeries to resume operations, providing much-needed bread to the population. However, the United Nations has warned that the aid delivery is grossly inadequate to meet the huge volume of needs. The WFP has 130,000 tonnes of humanitarian items waiting at the Gaza border, and its Deputy Head of Operations in Gaza, Carl Skau, said the programme needs about 500 trucks daily to meet the needs of the approximately 2 million people at risk of starvation. “We are now focusing on providing flour and other inputs for bakeries and soup kitchens in the south of the enclave where distribution is now taking place due to security concerns,” Skau said. Israel has restricted aid inflow into the south, leaving the north and Khan Younis without sufficient supplies. The Israeli blockade was reportedly due to allegations that the WFP was allowing Hamas to steal aid, but Israel has not provided evidence to support these claims. Both the UN and the UN Works and Relief Agency (UNRWA) have denied similar allegations, with the UNRWA playing a critical role in providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza.