Supply vehicles bound for Gaza are insufficient, admits WFP head, implying a significant shortfall in essential goods.
Gaza's Struggling Food Aid Delivery Despite Israel's Partial Easing of Blockade
The ongoing food emergency in Gaza remains dire, as the number of aid convoys allowed to enter the territory is inadequate relative to the necessities, according to David Beasley, head of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).
Beasley expressed concern over the Israel-enforced blockade of Gaza, which is ongoing as a means to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages. He stated that approximately 500,000 residents of Gaza are in distressingly vulnerable food positions, with the potential of plunging into famine if urgent action is not taken.
"Presently, we have over half a million people within Gaza who are with very limited food resources," Beasley shared on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Sunday. "We have to get in there, and we have to get in there at scale, not just periodically allowing a few trucks to enter, as I said, it's mere drops in the bucket."
Israel temporarily halted their offensive in Gaza in March, only to renew military actions, aiming to eradicate Hamas and secure the release of the hostages still in their custody as a result of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack that triggered the conflict. Hamas stipulates that they will only relinquish the captives once a permanent ceasefire is in effect and Israel withdraws.
Prior to ceasefire resumption, Israel impeded the import of all food, medicine, and fuel for a span of 2½ months, before subsequently permitting a selection of aid trucks to enter in the last few days. The lift on the blockade came only after experts warned of an impending famine in Gaza and after diplomatic pressure from some of Israel's biggest allies, including the United States.
Previously, during the ceasefire, the UN food aid program arranged for around 600 trucks per day to enter Gaza. Currently, only around 100 are permitted to enter, Beasley noted.
"It's not nearly enough, and it needs to be directed towards the suitable locations," he emphasized.
Beasley also rejected Israel's accusations that Hamas is responsible for the theft of 15 aid trucks, contending that there is no concrete evidence to support such allegations.
"These people are desperate, and when they see a World Food Programme truck approaching, they rush towards it," Beasley explained. "It has nothing to do with Hamas or any form of organized crime; it solely concerns the fact that these people are on the brink of starvation."
Gaza's Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas, reports that over 3,780 people have perished in Gaza since Israel terminated the ceasefire. In the last 24 hours alone, at least 38 individuals were killed by Israeli strikes, including a mother and her two children seeking refuge in a tent, according to health officials.
The Israeli military has yet to comment on the most recent attacks.
Israel's military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, stated during a visit to Khan Younis that "this is not an endless war."
On the other hand, recent ceasefire discussions in Qatar have failed to make any progress.
The Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led terrorist attack resulted in the death of some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 251 people. Around a third of the remaining hostages are believed to still be alive, with most of the others having been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.
The 19-month Israeli offensive in Gaza has claimed the lives of over 53,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, with the majority being women and children. However, the ministry does not release figures distinguishing between civilians and combatants killed.
The prolonged conflict has wrecked vast areas of Gaza and displaced nearly 90% of the territory's population, often repeatedly.
- In the context of the ongoing food crisis, Beasley discussed the dire state of health-and-wellness in Gaza, stating that over half a million residents are in vulnerable food positions and at risk of plunging into famine without urgent action.
- The political situation in Gaza continues to be complex, with ceasefire discussions failing to progress and recent attacks highlighting the ongoing war-and-conflicts.
- The UN World Food Program's (WFP) efforts to deliver aid trucks to Gaza have been hindered, with Beasley stating that the number of trucks allowed to enter is inadequate compared to the necessities, and the aid has been directed towards improper locations, leading to accusations of crime-and-justice regarding the alleged theft of aid trucks.
- The news of the health emergency in Gaza, along with the ongoing conflict and political tension, has not been absent from general-news headlines, with updates on casualties, blockade easing, and ceasefire negotiations frequently featured.
