Six things that are needed to alleviate the terrible humanitarian situation in Gaza are discussed in a 3/9 article republished by Prof. Juan Cole in his blog. The article begins by discussing President Biden’s announcement in his State of the Union address on March 7 that he was “directing the US military
to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine and temporary shelters.”
The article describes this as “the latest desperate attempt to get around the Israeli blockade that severely limits the flow of supplies into Gaza.” It says transport by sea can handle large volumes of aid at reasonable costs, compared to inefficient and dangerous air drops which can deliver only a few supplies at high cost. But, a sea route “is not enough.”
Any cargo reaching Gaza on this route would encounter the same issues that are plaguing humanitarian deliveries by road. The Israeli blockade requires strict checks on goods, which in the new maritime channel will be carried out in Cyprus.
In a joint statement, the European Commission, Cyprus, the UAE, the US, and the UK stressed that “efforts will be closely coordinated with the Government of Israel.”
A senior official at UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency) told ABC News “the only solution to the humanitarian crisis is getting aid in by road.” He also said a cease-fire is needed in Gaza because "you can't deliver humanitarian aid if you're being shot at."
The article says “a workable plan for aid logistics” includes these points, with many more details in the article:
1. Safe access guarantee
“All parties need to agree to ensure the safety of humanitarian convoys. Aid needs to be distributed, but aid organizations are warning that attacks on humanitarian workers make their work nearly impossible. UN peacekeepers should be allowed to provide protective escorts for aid convoys.”
2. Eliminate bottlenecks
“More entry points into Gaza need to be opened. The planned pier is a step in the right direction, but it will take weeks to be operational. Opening more road crossings would be much faster and alleviate pressure on the two current crossings.”
3. Access to northern Gaza
“Humanitarian aid has to be delivered to all parts of Gaza, but access to the north has been particularly challenging. Humanitarian operations to the north were halted on February 5 after a UN-coordinated food convoy was hit by Israeli naval fire and humanitarian workers reported intimidation by soldiers at an Israeli checkpoint.”
4. Restricted items
“Various items, including filtration systems and even sleeping bags, have been blocked while others have been stuck in bureaucratic limbo, waiting weeks for clearance. Rules need to be clear and consistent. Allowing sufficient quantities of fuel to enter is critical to operate trucks, hospital equipment and water-purification plants.”
5. Humanitarian visas
“Humanitarian work also requires humanitarian workers. Recently, Israel has ceased issuing visas for international humanitarian personnel working in the Palestinian territories. Dozens of international humanitarian workers have left, while some are risking deportation by outstaying their visa limits.”
6. Commercial trade
“It is important that the movement of goods also includes the resumption of trade. A functioning local market is paramount for any prospects of economic recovery in Gaza. The aim for combined traffic of commercial vehicles as well as those operated by the United Nations and non-government organizations should be, at the minimum, the pre-war average of 500.”
The article explains why more aid is desperately needed.
Children are dying of malnutrition and dehydration in Gaza. Overcrowded shelters offer very little space and most people in Gaza live with limited access to water and poor sanitation facilities. The few operational hospitals are struggling with a lack of staff, electricity and medical supplies.
And it provides these numbers from the World Food Program:
The World Food Program (WFP) has said the number of food trucks entering Gaza decreased from an average of 150 trucks per day from Jan.-Sept. 2023 to an average of 59 food trucks per day between Oct. 7, 2023 and Jan. 24 of this year, according to a report last month. WFP says the number of humanitarian aid convoys entering Gaza daily must at least double to meet some of the population's most basic needs.