Gaza (Washington Insider Magazine) – The United Nations has begun moving significant quantities of aid from a U.S.-constructed pier off the Gaza coast to warehouses within the besieged territory. This marks the first such operation since the World Food Program (WFP) suspended activities on June 9 due to security issues.
Significant Aid Movement
More than 10 million pounds of aid have been transported ashore over the past week to prevent spoilage of the supplies, according to WFP spokesperson Abeer Etefa. Future operations at the pier will depend on ongoing security evaluations. The UN is also investigating whether the pier was involved in an Israeli military operation last month that resulted in the deaths of over 270 Palestinians during a rescue mission.
Challenges and Considerations
According to Huffpost, lawlessness and attacks on humanitarian convoys pose significant challenges to aid distribution in Gaza. Despite most aid deliveries coming by land, restrictions at border crossings have exacerbated the situation for the already aid-dependent population.
Reviving Negotiations
In parallel, the U.S. is attempting to revive stalled negotiations between Israel and Hamas through intermediaries Egypt and Qatar. A new proposal seeks to bridge differences regarding the terms of the negotiations between the first and second phases of a proposed cease-fire agreement.
Ongoing Conflict and Casualties
The conflict, which is now in its ninth month, has killed roughly 37,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Recent Israeli strikes resulted in additional casualties, including the death of a five-year-old kid in the Bureij refugee camp. Since the war began, almost 1.3 million Palestinians have been displaced and are seeking sanctuary in designated safe zones.
Humanitarian Crisis
Gaza continues to suffer from high temperatures as well as a lack of electricity and potable water. Displaced residents struggle to cope with the heat and terrible living conditions in improvised shelters.
The United Nations and other humanitarian agencies still face enormous hurdles in providing critical relief to the war-torn region.
