The United Nations has received permission from Israel to bring approximately 100 trucks carrying humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. This comes after a prolonged blockade lasting 11 weeks, which has severely restricted access to vital resources for the enclave’s 2.3 million residents.
According to Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the approval for the new trucks was granted today, marking a significant improvement compared to previous days. Specifically, around 100 trucks are expected to deliver essential supplies.
It is worth noting that on May 19, Israel allowed only nine trucks to enter through the Kerem Shalom crossing, of which only five are currently in Gaza undergoing final inspections under Israeli supervision. These shipments include baby food and other nutritious products that are critically important for saving children suffering from acute food shortages.
Tom Fletcher, head of UN humanitarian aid, previously stated that the volume of deliveries is “a drop in the ocean,” emphasizing that the population’s needs far exceed the available resources.
Israel plans to intensify military operations against Hamas and establish full control over Gaza following the outbreak of large-scale hostilities in October 2023. According to the Israeli side, the blockade aims to prevent humanitarian aid from being diverted to militants, a claim Hamas denies.
The level of malnutrition among the enclave’s population has risen sharply due to the blockade and may continue to increase if the food shortage persists. Akihiro Seita, Health Director of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), stated that the situation is spiraling out of control and requires urgent action.