🔗 Share this article

Even if the access route at the Egyptian border becomes operational in the coming days, relief agencies encounter major obstacles providing aid to northern Gaza, the area hardest impacted by hunger, according to experts.

Infrastructure Issues

Key roads are practically blocked due to massive destruction across the conflict-affected area – or are still controlled by security personnel. Any transport that malfunctions is probably will be immediately stripped.

The primary crossing, the key gateway to the northern region, damaged by two years of conflict, has been shut down for several weeks, and Israeli officials have notified humanitarian organizations in Gaza that there are no current intentions to reopen the crossing, according to humanitarian staff.

Destruction in Gaza City

The main city was the target of a significant armed campaign launched in August that was continuing when the ceasefire deal was signed a week ago.

Devastation in the north has been widespread, with whole settlements including Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun in destroyed as well as many of the peripheral zones of the main city.

"Any activation of a access route into Gaza is welcome, but we need to ensure we can access populations where they are," commented a policy expert from a relief agency.

Relief Situation

Witnesses said many of the estimated 300,000 people who have returned to the northern region from the densely populated southern area where they had been living during the Israeli offensive were now "staying" among the debris of their homes, often without any housing and with scarce nutrition or hydration.

An official from a UN agency said the damage in Gaza City was "shocking".

"We see block after block, home after home ... there is massive desperation for clean water. The situation is dire. We must have all the crossings functioning," the official, who was in the northern city recently, added.

Insufficient Entry

An organization head based in the northern city said the needs in what used to be the territory's active economic and social center were "enormous".

"People have positive expectation and hope but there needs to be rapid progress on the crossings. There has been no substantial progress on the ground yet," the director commented.

"We are still getting a insufficient volume of support [and] we are now commencing to grasp the extent of destruction. Numerous roads are overwhelmed by ruins ... there is almost no home that is safe. There is damage and unexploded ordnance across the region."

Recent Changes

Recently, humanitarian organizations said limited amounts of essential fuel came into Gaza for the first instance in seven months, along with consignments of wheat, grains and fresh vegetables. The recent deliveries sent prices in markets tumbling.

Within a central community, a civilian said there had been noticeable change since the peace agreement.

"Commercial areas are containing food, fresh goods, and produce, although the prices are remaining elevated and not accessible for everyone," the person stated.

Cold Season Preparations

"Our most important needs now, especially with the arrival of colder weather, are to have a tent to shelter us from the cold and cold-weather clothing because the shops do not have enough clothes for us or, if they can be found, they are scarce and extremely pricey."

Multiple organization-assisted bakeries in central and southern Gaza have resumed functioning since the truce.

Support Delivery

Transport were announced to have entered the border access point through Israeli territory to Gaza during the week, though exact numbers were uncertain.

Israel's news organization announced that Wednesday's aid deliveries would include nutritional supplies, treatment resources, petroleum products, fuel for cooking and tools to fix vital infrastructure.

"Humanitarian aid remains flowing to the conflict region through the border access point and other crossings after safety verification," an government spokesperson commented.

Allocation Problems

But counting the number of trucks could be misleading, cautioned a specialist from an international NGO. "We need to know what is in the transports and how full they are for it to be a really meaningful metric," the representative said.

Private companies are sending convoys of trucks carrying confectionery, fizzy drinks and snacks, which have minimal health benefits, while urgent medical support for young people or individuals who have gone without adequate food for an extended period are scarce.

Treatment Situation

In Gaza City, only a handful of healthcare facilities are working, compared with 45 in summer.

Numerous organizations have millions of dollars in assistance materials stored near the territory pending distribution. A humanitarian body supporting Palestinians across the territory for decades has three months' worth of sustenance for all residents in place to be transported.

"We possess the materials, the tools and the capabilities ... we just need the entry," said a relief official, just returning from Gaza.

Political Aspects

An international initiative outlines that "complete" support should be delivered to Gaza and be allocated through humanitarian bodies and relief organizations, without disruption from either combatant organizations or national security.

This likely prohibits the disputed Israel-backed relief agency which began operations in spring, resulting in disorderly situations and numerous casualties as crowds of aid-seekers congregated around its assistance centers.

Relief representatives in Gaza {told|informed