Humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip is no longer just trucks carrying food and medicine to residents exhausted by the war of extermination. Rather, during the years of aggression, it has turned into a very complex process governed by military restrictions, the closure of crossings, and changing distribution mechanisms, amidst a widening gap between the size of humanitarian needs and the ability of international institutions to reach millions of besieged Palestinians.
Since the beginning of the war, the crossings have been a key factor in the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The entry of food, medicine, fuel, and basic necessities has been contingent upon approvals, procedures, and restrictions imposed by the occupying authorities, slowing the flow of aid and disrupting its delivery to the areas most in need.
The crisis was not limited to the crossings; it extended into the heart of the Strip, where humanitarian convoys faced difficulties in moving and reaching the population due to military operations, restrictions on movement, and the destruction of roads and infrastructure.
While humanitarian needs multiplied with the expansion of destruction and displacement, the capacity of relief organizations to respond remained far below the scale of the disaster. This left thousands of families dependent on irregular aid or limited quantities insufficient to meet their basic needs.
The report highlights the magnitude of the challenges faced by UNRWA, which for decades had been a cornerstone of humanitarian and relief work in the Gaza Strip, before its operations were subjected to escalating restrictions that directly impacted its ability to bring in and distribute aid. The restrictions imposed on the agency and the reduction of its operational capacity have created a void in the relief system, given its long experience and extensive network of staff, facilities, shelters and services within the sector.
