By Pilar Martin | Philantropy manager
DETERIORATION OF ACCESS FOR HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES INTO GAZA
None of the land crossings into Gaza – the most effective, viable way to deliver assistance – have been fully functional since October 2023, while the North of the strip remains effectively cut off from the South by the Israeli army. Southern access - Kerem Shalom / Karam Abu Salem crossing
The situation around the Kerem Shalom/Karam Abu Salem (KS/KAS) crossing has deteriorated significantly since Israel’s offensive in May, making the crossing unsafe to access from within Gaza and currently not logistically viable.
Since early May, KS/KAS has been designated as the primary crossing for humanitarian cargo, food, fuel, and other critical supplies and is described by Israeli authorities as ‘open’ – but in practice only a small trickle of aid has entered through this crossing and reached people in need for the following reasons: The area between this crossing and the so-called “humanitarian zone”, where most Palestinians in Gaza reside, is an active combat zone and has become extremely unsafe since the onset of the Israeli offensive on Rafah.
The security situation has further deteriorated due to Israeli attacks on Gaza’s civilian police force, which have hindered their ability to work due to life safety concerns. This has led to a breakdown in public order and safety, increasing the likelihood of looting of humanitarian convoys. The increase in looting incidents now is a result of 9 months of Israeli destruction of civilian infrastructure and aid obstruction, squeezing the population into a pressure cooker situation.
When people are pushed to extreme limits, they will do whatever it takes for the survival of their families. Lack of visibility and predictability on the situation and KS/KAS crossing, which is hardly accessible for NGOs and the UN, complicates operations and planning. Since early May, most organizations have had to discontinue purchasing new goods due to the backlog created by the lack of functioning entry routes from Egypt to Gaza. There are reportedly over 1,500 UN/NGOs trucks currently waiting in Al Arish in Egypt to cross into Gaza.
Thank you for helping us to alleviate all this suffering. You help is crucial for our work.
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