Story developmentstory development,
A small convoy enters the Gaza Strip from Egypt, carrying much-needed medicines and food supplies.
The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza has been opened to allow a small amount of much-needed aid to flow to Palestinians suffering from food, medicine and water shortages in territories under Israeli siege.
A statement from the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said that a convoy of 20 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip from Egypt on Saturday, carrying medicines and food supplies.
More than 200 trucks carrying about 3,000 tons of aid were stationed near the crossing for several days before heading to Gaza.
The Hamas movement’s media office said earlier that “the relief aid convoy that is supposed to enter today includes 20 trucks carrying medicines, medical supplies, and a limited amount of food (canned goods).”
Martin Griffiths, the UN emergency relief coordinator, welcomed the aid delivery, saying it came after “days of deep and intense negotiations with all parties concerned to ensure that the aid operation in Gaza resumes as quickly as possible and under the right conditions.”
He added: “I am confident that this delivery will be the beginning of a sustained effort to provide essential supplies – including food, water, medicine and fuel – to the people of Gaza, in a safe, reliable, unconditional and unhindered manner.”
For two weeks, Israel has blockaded the area and launched waves of punitive air strikes following an October 7 attack by Hamas militants on towns in southern Israel.
Al Jazeera’s James Baez said that although opening the Rafah crossing is “important” because it could lead to more aid being sent to Gaza, experts say more aid is needed.
“I would have to say 20 trucks, given that Gaza was getting – in terms of aid coming into Gaza before this conflict started – about 100 trucks of aid a day… so this is really a drop in the ocean,” he said.
Many in Gaza are forced to eat one meal a day and without enough water to drink, and are desperately waiting for aid. Hospital workers were also in desperate need of medical supplies and fuel for their generators as they treated thousands of people injured in the bombings.
Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Programme, told Al Jazeera that 20 aid trucks are not enough.
“The situation inside Gaza is tragic. Not only is there no food, there is no water, electricity or fuel. This combination is not only disastrous, but could lead to more famine and disease as well,” she added. “We have to get more trucks in.”
Israel closed the area for two weeks, forcing Palestinians to ration food and drink dirty water from wells. Hospitals say they are running out of medicine and fuel to run emergency generators amid power outages across the region.
The Hamas movement’s media office issued a statement on Saturday saying that the expected aid trucks “will not change the catastrophic medical conditions in Gaza.”
This is a developing story. More to follow.
“Internet practitioner. Social media maven. Certified zombieaholic. Lifelong communicator.”