CAIRO: Efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continue as a new process for inspecting aid at the Kerem Shalom crossing undergoes testing, according to a senior UN official. The proposed system involves trucks entering Kerem Shalom from Jordan before proceeding to Gaza via Rafah, approximately 3 km away.
However, the vital step remains for trucks to gain direct entry into Gaza through Kerem Shalom to effectively alleviate the increasingly desperate situation in the enclave.
Carl Skau, the deputy executive director of the UN World Food Program, emphasized the necessity of Kerem Shalom being open for truck entry directly into Gaza. While Israel has yet to grant permission, recent signals from both Israel and the United Nations suggest a potential opening of Kerem Shalom to process humanitarian supplies into Gaza.
Aid Delivery to Gaza Amid Starvation
Until now, aid delivery has been limited through Egypt’s Rafah crossing, causing bottlenecks and delays as trucks have been forced to drive over 40 km south to the border with Israel before returning to Rafah. The ongoing situation has strained resources and exacerbated the challenges of delivering essential aid.
The testing of the inspection system at Kerem Shalom for trucks arriving from Jordan is seen as a positive step, potentially allowing for a more streamlined aid delivery process. Skau, who recently visited Gaza, highlighted the urgency of the situation, describing chaos at aid distribution points and an increasing number of displaced people near the border with Egypt.
Skau expressed the need for a swift resolution, stating, “There is a question for how long this can continue because the humanitarian operation is collapsing. Half of the population are starving, nine out of 10 are not eating every day. Obviously, the needs are massive.”
