Although the amount is significantly higher, aid workers still face funding gaps
reported this Wednesday (30), that more than 24 thousand tons of humanitarian aid entered since the ceasefire began in early October. “Since the ceasefire, we have moved more than 24,000 tons of aid through all crossing points and have resumed distribution of aid at both community and domestic levels,” said UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Ramiz Alakbarov. “Implementation of the American 20-point peace plan remains the central axis and is the main condition for us to deliver humanitarian assistance in a comprehensive manner,” said director general for the Middle East of the World Food Program (WFP), Samer AbdelJaber, adding that 20 days after Hamas’ agreement with Israel, “around 20 thousand tons of food” were gathered in Gaza.
Although the amount of humanitarian aid is significantly higher compared to the period before the ceasefire, aid workers still face funding shortfalls as well as coordination problems with Israeli authorities, said the UN, which has also requested more access from NGOs so they can distribute it. According to Alakbarov, looting in the coastal strip has decreased considerably, Alakbarov added, which has facilitated the distribution of aid. “The persistent problem of NGO registration remains a bottleneck. We continue to highlight the essential role that NGOs, especially national ones, play in humanitarian operations in Gaza, and we have now intensified this,” he noted.
Israel has withdrawn its forces from Gaza’s main cities, but still controls about half the territory from positions on the so-called Yellow Line, and resists calls to allow aid in through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
