UNRWA Says Nearly 3,000 Aid Trucks Piled Up at Gaza Border, Not Allowed In
Aid Crisis Deepens Amid Blockade
The UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) reports that nearly 3,000 aid trucks loaded with lifesaving supplies are stranded at Gaza’s border, unable to enter due to Israel’s two-month-long blockade, the longest since the genocide began in October 2023.
The blockade, which started on March 2, has prevented any humanitarian or commercial supplies from reaching Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, most of whom rely on aid.
Hunger and Malnutrition Surge
Food stocks in Gaza are exhausted, with UNRWA and the World Food Programme (WFP) warning of spreading hunger.
UNRWA’s last food stocks were delivered to hot meal kitchens, which are expected to run out within days.
All 25 WFP-supported bakeries have closed, and food prices have skyrocketed by 1,400% compared to the ceasefire period from January to March.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has begun its latest famine review as malnutrition worsens, with 10,000 cases of acute malnutrition among children reported since January, including 1,600 severe cases.
UNRWA stated on X:
Personal Struggles Highlight Desperation
Um Muhammad, a woman at a Gaza City shelter, shared her family’s plight: “When I knead and bake, I feel very ashamed of myself, so I distribute some bread to the children who come asking for a piece of bread. We eat one meal a day, dividing bread among each person daily. We eat canned goods, lentils, and rice. When this stock runs out, I don’t know what we will do because what is available in the market is scarce.”
Her family of 11 relies on dwindling flour supplies, stretching limited resources to survive as nearby families have already run out.
Medical and Operational Challenges
Beyond food, shortages of medical supplies, including trauma-related equipment, surgical gowns, and therapeutic milk, are critical.
Looting incidents have increased, with armed groups recently targeting a truck in Deir Al-Balah and a warehouse in Gaza City.
Humanitarian access is further restricted by operational constraints, ongoing Israeli military operations, and denials of entry for specialized medical teams.
Despite these challenges, UNRWA and WFP have substantial aid ready, including 116,000 metric tonnes of food, enough to feed one million people for four months, awaiting border reopening.