A medical team and ten trucks loaded with aid entered the Gaza Strip via Egypt on Friday. This brings the number of trucks that have crossed the border since last Saturday to 84. The United Nations describes the situation in Gaza as “painful.”
A Palestinian border official shared news of the trucks with the news agency Reuters. This was later confirmed by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The aid consists of ten foreign doctors and six trucks loaded with water, food and medicine. It has not yet been possible to bring fuel into the Gaza Strip.
Len Hastings, the UN humanitarian aid coordinator in the Palestinian territories, said negotiations were underway with Israel to obtain more humanitarian aid for Gaza. Aid has been limited so far. According to Hastings, this is due to technical issues, political issues and security issues.
Before the war, about 450 trucks loaded with aid arrived in Gaza daily, according to the United Nations official.
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‘Help is in question’
Meanwhile, the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) said that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate.
UNRWA Commissioner Philippe Lazzarini said: “Basic services have collapsed, medicine, food and water are running out and the sewage system is no longer working. There is a severe health crisis looming.”
Lazzarini adds that the organization itself had to reduce its fuel consumption “significantly.” “We have had to make difficult decisions. What should work? Is this the bakery or the ventilator in the hospital?”
According to Lazzarini, it is “painful” to note that questions are constantly being raised about providing aid to Gaza. “Humanitarian assistance is a fundamental right.”
The government allocates another 15 million euros to help Gaza
The government is allocating another 15 million euros for humanitarian aid to the residents of Gaza. This was announced by outgoing Minister Lesje Schreinmacher (Development Cooperation) on Friday shortly after the Cabinet meeting.
The region previously received aid worth 10 million euros from the Netherlands.