How is aid getting into Gaza?

More than 1 million people in Gaza at risk of starvation this July, and the Rafah Crossing has been shut for more than 70 days. Safe and unimpeded aid access is desperately needed. But how will it get delivered?

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Last updated 17 July 2024

The humanitarian situation in Gaza, and particularly Rafah, grows more desperate by the day. Aid routes close and reopen, but the people of Gaza cannot wait.

The UN states that more than 1 million people face starvation and death this July, while the 2.2 million population faces acute food insecurity. The situation is catastrophic and people’s lives hang in the balance.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has reached over 1.5 million people with, food parcels, hygiene kits, blankets and other basic essentials, despite immense challenges.

But it is not enough. A greatly increased and regular flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza is needed, and humanitarian workers must be able to safely distribute this aid across Gaza. 

Is aid getting into Gaza?

It has now been 70 days - or 10 weeks - since the Rafah border, a critical lifeline for humanitarian aid into Gaza, was closed.

The Rafah border crossing was one of the largest and most important aid crossings and though some aid has continued to enter Gaza, UNRWA has reported the monthly number of trucks entering Gaza has reduced by 63% since 7 October 2023.

The closure is exacerbating an already dire situation in Gaza. Only a trickle of aid is reaching the area, leaving the Palestine Red Crescent Society teams in Gaza delivering lifesaving aid with much reduced resources.

Beatrice Butsana-Sita, chief executive British Red Cross, says:

"Before the conflict around 500 trucks were arriving in Gaza every day. We now face a situation where every single person in Gaza needs humanitarian assistance.

The number of trucks allowed to enter Gaza is a drop in the ocean of needs. Aid alone cannot solve this crisis, but it will save lives.

"Our Gaza Crisis appeal will provide lifesaving aid today, and a concerted humanitarian response and recovery in the many years ahead,” she continues.

What's the humanitarian situation like in Gaza?

The lack of aid access has had devastating effects for the people of Gaza, who have endured critical food insecurity and face the prospect of famine.

The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths has warned of more than a million people (around half Gaza’s population) facing starvation and death by the middle of July.

He stated that waiting until famine is officially declared to act “would be a death sentence for hundreds of thousands of people and a moral outrage”.

There are also acute shortages of water. 67% critical water infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed by fighting. The lack of clean water threatens countless lives, especially those of children who are at the highest risk of dehydration.

Disease and famine in Gaza could still be averted, but it requires urgent action to restore access to humanitarian aid across the entire Gaza strip.

What’s the quickest and best way to get aid into Gaza?

The quickest way to get aid into Gaza is to increase the aid passing through established crossings like Rafah, Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem and Erez/Beit Hanoun.

Land-based delivery remains the most effective way to deliver aid into Gaza, as these are the main arteries for aid delivery and so have the greatest capacity. This approach is sustainable, reliable and has been successful in the past.

How has the Red Crescent been getting aid into Gaza?

Colleagues from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the Egyptian Red Crescent Society (ERCS) are working day and night, risking, their lives to deliver assistance.

They have done so for nine long months, playing a critical role in getting aid across the border and distributed to people in Gaza.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society are one of very few humanitarian actors who are present in Gaza itself - from north to south.

“The Palestine Red Crescent Society are one of very few humanitarian actors who are present in Gaza itself, throughout the Gaza strip from the south to the north,” says Sumiko, who was recently deployed with the IFRC to act as an Operations Manager for the Middle East crisis emergency appeal.

“They have been providing assistance, not just now because of the recent conflict, but throughout the history of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

How has Egypt been supporting aid efforts into Gaza?

“The Egyptian Red Crescent has played a huge, huge, huge role in getting humanitarian assistance into Gaza through that border", Sumiko continues.

“They are receiving and transporting goods from the EU, governments and different partner National Societies, whoever has donated. They were also mandated by the government to play that logistics role.

Checking each truckload, repackaging, sorting and transporting the aid for screening can take days. The ERCS has established large-scale warehouses by the border to handle incoming aid, and have delivered 20,000 trucks to date.

On the other side of the Rafah border, the Palestine Red Crescent Society has been receiving all aid deliveries so that they can be distributed to those in need. This means loading and unloading every truck by hand, to ensure the flow of aid.

Has the Red Crescent managed to deliver aid into Gaza?

Yes – they have worked tirelessly since October 2023.

To date, the Palestine Red Crescent Society has reached over 1.5m people with food parcels, hygiene kits, blankets, mattresses, water jerry cans, kitchen kits and other basic essentials. Sadly, so much more is needed.

How has the British Red Cross been supporting?

During crises like the conflict in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, the entire Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement comes together.

The British Red Cross is directly supporting Magen David Adom in Israel and the Palestine Red Crescent Society, to respond to their communities’ urgent needs.

We have provided funding as well as expert staff. Your donations have been invaluable in helping to fund this response.

How can more aid get into Gaza?

Though Gaza is facing a crisis that will not be healed by aid alone, aid agencies must be allowed to deliver more humanitarian assistance at a faster pace – and safely.

This will vastly improve people’s chances of survival. People’s lives are hanging in the balance, and aid agencies, including the Red Cross and Red Crescent, are here to safeguard civilian life and uphold human dignity.

How can people in the UK help people in Gaza?

Through a huge, sustained effort over a long period of time, we can avert an even greater catastrophe. We're on the ground and ready. Let's be there for people in Gaza.

• If you can, please donate to the Gaza Crisis Appeal