The number of trucks carrying food and supplies reaching the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Abu Salem commercial crossing, controlled by the Israeli authorities, dropped by 46% during the week ending October 22, compared to the previous week, at a time when the local markets are facing shortages of basic goods and a deterioration in the purchasing power of residents. Data from the Crossings and Borders Authority, monitored and analyzed by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, showed that the total number of trucks entering the strip decreased by 12.9%, from 955 trucks in the week ending October 15 to 832 trucks the following week, a difference of 123 trucks, despite a slight increase in aid trucks.
According to the data, incoming trucks over the past week were distributed as 222 commercial trucks, 544 aid trucks, and 66 fuel trucks, compared to 351 commercial trucks, 530 aid trucks, and 74 fuel trucks the previous week. This means the number of commercial trucks dropped by 129 trucks, or 36.8%, while aid trucks increased by 2.6%, just 14 more trucks, which didn’t make up for the decline in commercial traffic in the sector. Fuel trucks decreased by eight trucks, roughly 10.8%. Comparing the two weeks shows that the rise in aid coincided with a drop in total trucks entering through the crossing, which is the sector’s only commercial gateway, according to the data. The biggest fall was in food and provisioning trucks, dropping from 641 trucks between October 9-15 to 346 trucks between October 16-22, a decrease of 295 trucks, or about 46%. The share of food trucks out of the total trucks entering the sector fell from around 67.1% in the first week to 41.6% the next week, a difference of roughly 25.5 percentage points.
It appears that the weight of food supplies within the total goods entering the sector has decreased. On the other hand, the number of trucks loaded with consumer goods and household items rose from 145 to 293 trucks, an increase of 148 trucks, roughly 102%. Similarly, trucks carrying shelter and relief supplies increased from 57 to 95 trucks, and trucks with medical and health supplies went up from 23 to 26 trucks. The figures indicate a change in the composition of shipments arriving in Gaza, as the number of food trucks dropped sharply, while the number of consumer goods and household item trucks almost doubled, and shipments of shelter and health supplies increased.
These changes coincide with a lack of basic food items in the markets, including flour, meat, vegetables, fruits, and eggs, according to market data, along with the population’s limited ability to buy available goods amid widening poverty and loss of income sources for a large portion of the people. The increase in trucks carrying household items and shelter supplies does not make up for the shortage of food, due to their different uses and family needs, and a higher number of aid trucks does not necessarily mean more trucks for food.
