Humanitarian Aid Piled Up at Gaza Crossings Amid Ongoing Conflict

A severe backlog of humanitarian aid trucks remains stalled at Gaza's Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings, facing severe distribution challenges caused by ongoing conflict and lawlessness. The UN and agencies like WFP struggle to deliver aid due to attacks and looting, further complicating efforts amid heightened military activity.

A severe backlog of 1,150 truckloads of humanitarian aid awaits collection from the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza, Israel reported on Wednesday. The situation has prompted the United Nations to assert, 'We're doing what we can.'

COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry agency responsible for coordinating aid deliveries to Palestinian territories, stated that an additional 50 trucks are awaiting collection from the Erez crossing in northern Gaza. The United Nations is finding it difficult to distribute aid within the enclave of 2.3 million people, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants enters its tenth month, severely disrupting law and order.

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric informed that, although aid is being delivered, 'utter lawlessness' and ongoing conflict hinder progress. 'We're continuing to do our best to get that to those people who need it. Our colleagues in Gaza are not sitting on their hands.' He noted that U.N. trucks on the ground often operate at great risk, frequently facing attacks or looting by criminal elements. Consequently, while some aid reaches its destination, 'very little' gets through.

The U.N. has consistently raised concerns over the dangers and barriers in delivering aid to Gaza, where Israel scrutinizes and approves all aid trucks. The World Food Programme (WFP) and the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA have also reported severe supply chain disruptions.

WFP spokesperson Shaza Moghraby stated that military operations in northern Gaza restrict their activities, making it increasingly difficult to operate as Israeli forces press their offensive in north and central Gaza, urging the evacuation of Gaza City. Due to ongoing conflict, WFP's food deliveries from the West Erez crossing have been halted for days, and their distribution sites have been evacuated and shut down, complicating access to those in need.

(With inputs from agencies.)