Delivering Aid to Gaza: Facing the Worst Challenges Yet

Just as harsh winter weather is setting in, the situation for humanitarian aid going into Gaza has reached its worst point since October 2023. Israel has severely restricted the entry of commercial goods, and aid convoys are barely trickling in.

The whole of Gaza is affected and in the north, where some areas have been subject to intense military siege, the IPC added that "starvation, malnutrition, and excess mortality due to malnutrition and disease, are rapidly increasing… Famine thresholds may have already been crossed or else will be in the near future."

The fact is, a lot of aid is not getting to the people who desperately need it. Anera's experience is a case in point. Since the beginning of the war, our Palestinian team has delivered 1,124 trucks into Gaza, carrying food, tents, medicines, hygiene kits and more. At the height of our deliveries, during the months of April and August we were able to deliver 167 and 151 trucks into Gaza respectively - an average of five-six trucks daily. In October 2024, Anera was able to deliver only 27 trucks, less than one per day, into the territory, where nearly two million people need daily aid.

Every shipment our staff has received in Gaza represents successful navigation through incredible challenges, but each also represents a fraction of what we are prepared and would like to send in. Anera and its immediate partners have thousands of tons, hundreds of trucks, of aid waiting in Egypt, Jordan, the West Bank and Israel ready to go to Gaza, but entry is complex and uncertain. And, when precious aid does get in, shipments do not always make it to our distribution centers intact.

Security Risks and Looting in Gaza

The security situation for aid deliveries is dire. Up to 30% of aid is stolen, often by organized groups exploiting the lack of law and order and the opportunity for war profiteering caused by a huge gap between demand and supply. Humanitarian convoys, unarmed by design, face risks of looting and even attack by Israeli forces.

Israel's failure to secure aid routes, as required under international law, is exacerbated by the absence of a consistent Palestinian security presence. The civilian police force is frequently targeted by Israeli forces. The situation has allowed armed gangs to thrive, further endangering aid deliveries. Without secure routes or protection, humanitarian operations in Gaza remain perilous.

The Kerem Shalom crossing, a primary entry point for goods in the south, has become a "looting zone." Even areas heavily patrolled by Israeli forces are not secure, with some reports suggesting passive or active Israeli protection of armed gangs.

Open-bed trucks - mandated by Israeli restrictions against closed trucks - are particularly vulnerable to theft.

Shifting Israeli Restrictions

Coordination with Israeli authorities is unpredictable. Approved items for Gaza, crossing locations, operating hours, required paperwork, and routes often change with little notice.

Gaining late-in-the-day access to reach the crossing to pick up the cargo makes it extremely difficult to complete the loading and transport as scheduled, leading to unsuccessful coordination and the need to re-coordinate for the next day. Additionally, late approvals increase the risk of cargo being looted, depriving people in dire need of critical aid.

Conditions on the ground add further uncertainty. Aid truck drivers face security threats and long delays, often waiting hours or even most of a day for route approvals. According to a recent assessment by a coalition of NGOs, including Anera, one major bottleneck is the limited hours at the Erez crossing, which operates for cargo offloading only between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m, five days a week.

While a new crossing at Kissufim (Al Karara) has opened for middle and southern Gaza, it has already experienced looting, highlighting ongoing challenges. Ensuring all crossings, past and present, are consistently open with extended hours is critical to address the scale of the crisis.

Permissions for specific goods are also inconsistent. For example, while frozen meat was allowed through in August, current restrictions prohibit shipping refrigerated goods, such as frozen chicken, through the Zakim (Erez West) crossing. Aid organizations urgently need reliable access to closed, refrigerated trucks to transport medicines and perishable food safely.

Adapting to Deliver

The humanitarian community must persevere, despite the unacceptable situation. Anera's teams, both inside and outside Gaza, continue adapting to keep aid flowing.

In recent days and weeks, aid delivery to northern Gaza has been more feasible than the south. The Logistics Cluster, led by the World Food Program (WFP), has been instrumental in helping us and others move cargo from Erez and Zikim. Through our invaluable partnerships with WFP, UNICEF, World Central Kitchen, and the United Arab Emirates, our Gaza City team has kept up minimal, but steady distributions of food, hygiene products, shelter supplies, and more, even if the quantities remain far short of meeting people's needs.

In southern Gaza, where the majority of Gaza's population now resides, resources are scarcer than ever. Earlier this week, a desperate crowd broke into a UN warehouse, only to find it empty. Armed groups are reportedly targeting bakeries-the last lifeline for many families.

Aid flows into the south have diminished drastically, leaving Anera and other organizations operating at minimal capacity in perilous conditions. Anera's team in southern Gaza continues to distribute hot meals, food parcels, fresh produce, water, clothing, tarps and blankets, albeit in limited quantities. Our health teams are also conducting between four and six daily clinics for displaced families.

We remain committed to organizing aid deliveries as long as they reach the people in need. Some shipments succeed entirely, while others face delays or theft. The only scenario in which we would halt operations is if staff and contractors face unacceptable risks.

Looking Ahead

Gaza's humanitarian catastrophe demands urgent action. Anera remains committed to adapting its operations to deliver aid to the displaced and vulnerable, but the situation requires sustained international support and pressure for improved access.

Every aid shipment represents hope for those in need. Despite unprecedented challenges, Anera will continue to find ways to deliver assistance with dignity and care. Together, we can stand with Gaza's people in their time of need.

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