The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced that 915 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip on Monday, marking the second day of a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after 15 months of conflict.
According to OCHA, data from Israel and ceasefire guarantors—the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt—reveals that on Sunday, approximately 630 aid trucks entered Gaza, with at least 300 directed to the north, where experts warn of an impending famine.
The ceasefire agreement stipulates that 600 truckloads of aid must enter Gaza daily during the initial six-week truce, including 50 trucks carrying fuel. Half of these shipments are allocated for northern Gaza.
Data from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) showed that 2,892 aid trucks entered Gaza in December. These supplies are delivered to the Gaza side of the border, where the UN collects and distributes them. However, distribution has faced challenges due to gangs and looters, with OCHA reporting that 2,230 aid truckloads—averaging 72 per day—were picked up in December, dropping to an average of 51 per day in the first week of January.
Israel's bombardment has devastated much of Gaza, repeatedly displacing its pre-war population of 2.3 million people. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described the humanitarian crisis as \"catastrophic.\"
In his address to the UN Security Council on Monday, Guterres emphasized the significant challenges the UN faces, calling for rapid, safe, and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid. \"Visas, permits and other enabling conditions must be in place quickly to allow a surge of desperately needed relief,\" he stated. \"We require the necessary technical, protective and communications equipment.\"
Guterres urged both Israel and Hamas to cooperate with the UN to facilitate humanitarian operations, including restoring public order and safety to prevent the looting of supplies. He also appealed to countries to accept patients requiring medical treatment, ensure sufficient commercial supplies are allowed into Gaza, and remove explosive ordnance.
Israel claims that Hamas killed approximately 1,200 people during the October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the current conflict. Meanwhile, the Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 47,000 Palestinians have died since the war began.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
