🔗 Share this article

While the Rafah crossing from Egypt becomes operational in the coming days, humanitarian organizations confront major obstacles distributing supplies to northern Gaza, the territory worst hit by food shortages, according to experts.

Infrastructure Problems

Primary highways are almost blocked due to massive destruction across the war-torn region – or continue to be under the control of security personnel. Any truck that stops working is almost certainly immediately stripped.

The main entry point, the main entry point to the northern region, destroyed during multiple years of conflict, has been closed for multiple weeks, and authorities have informed NGOs in Gaza that there are no short-term arrangements to open the crossing, as stated by relief personnel.

Devastation in Northern Territories

The main city was the objective of a major Israeli offensive initiated in August that was continuing when the temporary truce was agreed upon a week ago.

Destruction in the northern region has been extensive, with whole settlements including local municipalities and neighboring towns in destroyed as well as many of the outlying areas of Gaza City.

"Any opening of a access route into Gaza is welcome, but we need to make sure we can reach people where they are," stated a senior director from a relief agency.

Relief Situation

Witnesses said many of the approximately 300,000 people who have gone back to the north from the overcrowded coastal zone where they had been sheltering during the armed conflict were now "camping" among the destruction of their homes, often without any shelter and with limited nutrition or hydration.

A representative from a humanitarian body said the devastation in the northern territories was "devastating".

"There is neighborhood after neighborhood, home after home ... there is massive desperation for water. The situation is dire. We need each access route functioning," the official, who was in the northern city in recent days, added.

Restricted Entry

A community leader located in the northern city said the needs in what used to be the area's active economic and cultural hub were "immense".

"We see hope and faith but there needs to be rapid progress on the access routes. We haven't seen major improvement on the reality yet," the representative commented.

"There remains a small quantity of assistance [and] we are just beginning to understand the extent of destruction. Multiple thoroughfares are just full of debris ... there is almost no home that is undamaged. There remains harm and unexploded ordnance everywhere."

Recent Changes

In recent days, aid agencies said small quantities of vital cooking gas entered Gaza for the first time in multiple months, along with consignments of grain products, rice and fresh vegetables. The additional resources sent commercial prices falling.

In the central town, a local resident said there had been noticeable change since the ceasefire.

"The markets are full of products, produce, and fruits, although the rates are remaining elevated and not accessible for all people," the resident commented.

Winter Preparations

"Our most important needs now, particularly given the coming of winter, are to have a temporary housing to shelter us from the cold and cold-weather clothing because the markets do not have adequate garments for us or, if they are available, they are scarce and prohibitively costly."

Nine internationally-backed food preparation facilities in various locations have begun working again since the peace agreement.

Aid Delivery

Trucks were stated to have entered the humanitarian corridor through Israeli territory to Gaza during recent days, though exact numbers were unclear.

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

"Assistance resources continues to enter the Gaza Strip through the border access point and other crossings after safety verification," an government spokesperson stated.

Allocation Problems

But counting the volume of transports could be deceptive, advised a specialist from an international NGO. "We need to know the contents of the transports and how full they are for it to be a really meaningful metric," the representative added.

Commercial operators are sending groups of trucks loaded with chocolate, soft drinks and light food, which have little nutritional value, while emergency treatments for minors or people who have been without adequate food for an extended period are scarce.

Medical Situation

Throughout the main city, only seven healthcare facilities are functioning, compared with numerous in July.

Various groups have significant funding of humanitarian goods stored near the territory pending distribution. An international organization assisting Palestinians across the territory for many years has three months' worth of nutrition for everyone in Gaza prepared to be delivered.

"We maintain the materials, the tools and the skills ... we simply must have the access," said a humanitarian staff member, who recently came back from Gaza.

Diplomatic Aspects

A diplomatic framework details that "complete" assistance should enter Gaza and be distributed through humanitarian bodies and humanitarian networks, without disruption from any armed factions or government forces.

This likely prohibits the disputed authority-approved aid group which began operations in spring, causing uncontrolled circumstances and hundreds of deaths as numerous individuals gathered around its distribution sites.

Aid officials in Gaza {told|informed