Early on Saturday, a limited volume of much-needed aid has begun entering into Gaza through the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Food, medication, and water have been in low supply in the city, which is besieged by Israel.
Today, a 20-truck convoy including twenty relief vehicles made its way from Egypt into the Gaza Strip. Food and medical supplies are included in the shipment, according to a Hamas release.
For over a week, more than 200 trucks loaded with almost 3,000 tonnes of relief had been parked close to the border, waiting to enter Gaza.
The press office for Hamas earlier stated, “The relief aid cargo that is expected to arrive today includes 20 trucks that carry medicine, healthcare supplies, and a restricted volume of food supplies [canned goods].”
The shipment was hailed by the UN’s emergency assistance coordinator, who noted that it came after days of thorough and hard talks with all pertinent parties. The endeavor aimed at guaranteeing a prompt and appropriate restart of the humanitarian operation into Gaza. “I am confident that this delivery will be the start of a sustainable effort to provide essential supplies – including food, water, and fuel – to the people of Gaza, in a safe, dependable, unconditional and unimpeded manner,” Martin Griffiths, added.
Fuel will not be included in the humanitarian supplies that Israel will be sending from Egypt to Gaza on Saturday. For the people living in the besieged region as well as the humanitarian organizations supplying vital services, this is a serious problem. Fuel is essential for running generators that run vital institutions like hospitals and for pumping the water system.
Relief Cargo without Fuel
In the past, residents had to fill up tanks in order to get water. They are unable to run the vehicles required to pump or move water without gasoline.
At the moment, a number of hospitals are totally offline. Others were forced to close important health departments because they are operating on extremely limited fuel supply.
Thousands of clients, including newborns in incubators, are immediately at risk if fuel runs out. Many patients, including those with renal and cancer, are already on the verge of passing away, according to medical professionals.
Fuel is really important and must be delivered. Fuel will be required if we are to continue providing relief to people as planned, according to UNRWA’s head of communications.
Israel has been enclosing the region and launching retaliatory airstrikes for the past fortnight. Israeli attacks came after Hamas militants embarked on a raid on southern Israeli cities on October 7.
Many people in Gaza are in severe need of help since they can only eat one meal per day and do not have access to adequate water to drink. In addition, hospital staff members urgently need medical equipment and gasoline for their generators while they cared for thousands of bombing victims.
Israeli control over the area has resulted in food rationing and the drinking of tainted water from wells by the Palestinian people. In the midst of a widespread blackout, hospitals claim they are running low on supplies of medication and gasoline for emergency generators.
