Challenges Remain for Humanitarian Assistance in Northern Gaza Despite Ceasefire

Although the Rafah crossing from Egypt becomes operational this week, relief agencies face major obstacles delivering assistance to the northern region, the region hardest impacted by hunger, analysts state.

Transportation Issues

Major routes are almost blocked due to widespread damage across the war-torn region – or continue to be occupied by Israeli forces. Any transport that stops working is almost certainly instantly looted.

The main entry point, the main entry point to the north, destroyed during 24 months of conflict, has been closed for many days, and government representatives have told NGOs in Gaza that there are no short-term arrangements to activate the entry location, per reports from humanitarian staff.

Devastation in Northern Gaza

Gaza City was the focus of a significant armed campaign begun in August that was ongoing when the ceasefire deal was finalized recently.

Damage in the northern area has been extensive, with entire towns including local municipalities and Beit Hanoun in destroyed as well as many of the peripheral zones of the urban center.

"Any activation of a border point into Gaza is welcome, but we need to ensure we can help civilians where they are," said a senior director from a humanitarian organization.

Aid Circumstances

Local residents said many of the estimated 300,000 people who have gone back to the northern region from the overcrowded coastal zone where they had been sheltering during the Israeli offensive were now "camping" among the ruins of their homes, often without any shelter and with insufficient supplies or resources.

A spokesperson from an international organization said the destruction in northern Gaza was "shocking".

"It is block after block, structure after structure ... there is massive desperation for drinking water. The situation is dire. We must have each access route operational," the spokesperson, who was in Gaza City recently, stated.

Limited Distribution

A local director based in the urban center said the requirements in what used to be the region's active economic and social center were "enormous".

"People have hope and faith but there needs to be quick improvement on the crossings. We haven't seen any significant change on the situation yet," the representative stated.

"We continue to receive a small quantity of support [and] we are now commencing to comprehend the extent of damage. Numerous roads are just full of rubble ... there is hardly any residence that is safe. There is damage and unexploded ordnance across the region."

Recent Developments

Recently, relief groups said small quantities of vital cooking gas came into Gaza for the first time in seven months, along with shipments of flour, cereal and fresh vegetables. The additional resources sent market costs falling.

Within a central community, a local resident said there had been certain progress since the ceasefire.

"Commercial areas are stocked with products, vegetables, and fresh fruit, although the prices are remaining elevated and not accessible for everyone," the resident commented.

Colder Months Needs

"The crucial necessities currently, especially with the coming of colder weather, are to have a temporary housing to shelter us from the low temperatures and winter clothes because the stores do not have sufficient clothing for us or, if they can be found, they are scarce and extremely pricey."

Nine organization-assisted bread-making centers in central and southern Gaza have begun working again since the peace agreement.

Assistance Transport

Trucks were stated to have come through the border access point via the eastern border to Gaza during the week, though precise counts were unknown.

The nation's news organization reported that recent assistance transports would include edible goods, medical supplies, energy sources, cooking gas and materials to repair crucial facilities.

"Assistance resources remains flowing to the conflict region through the Kerem Shalom crossing and alternative access points after safety verification," an military representative said.

Allocation Challenges

But tracking the number of trucks could be deceptive, warned a professional from a humanitarian organization. "We need to know the contents of the vehicles and their capacity levels for it to be a really meaningful indicator," the representative added.

Commercial operators are sending groups of vehicles carrying sweets, soft drinks and treats, which have minimal health benefits, while critical care for minors or others who have gone without proper sustenance for an extended period are unavailable.

Treatment Situation

In Gaza City, only seven healthcare facilities are working, compared with many in earlier this year.

Various groups have significant funding in assistance materials warehoused around Gaza pending distribution. A UN agency supporting Palestinians across the region for many years has multiple months of supplies of sustenance for everyone in Gaza in place to be delivered.

"We possess the materials, the equipment and the capabilities ... we just need the entry," said one aid worker, who recently came back from Gaza.

Governmental Considerations

A proposed plan details that "comprehensive" support should reach Gaza and be distributed through the UN and the Red Crescent, without obstruction from both armed factions or government forces.

This appears to exclude the debated Israel-backed aid group which started working in spring, resulting in uncontrolled circumstances and hundreds of deaths as crowds of aid-seekers gathered around its assistance centers.

Aid officials in Gaza {told|informed