The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced its plan to provide essential humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. In a moment of relief, Egypt has agreed to open the Rafah border crossing, allowing up to 100 trucks filled with aid to enter Gaza every day.
Richard Brennan, the regional emergency director for the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean regional office, shared the development on Thursday. He revealed that U.S. President Joe Biden successfully negotiated with Israel and Egypt during his recent visit to the region, securing their agreement to allow the passage of vital aid through Rafah.
While the arrangement is a promising step forward, Brennan explained that it will take some time for the aid to reach Gaza. Initially, 20 trucks will be permitted to enter the sealed-off exclave, with the aim of increasing the number to 100 as quickly as possible. However, repairs are necessary to ensure safe transportation, and it is estimated that the aid will start reaching Gaza by Friday.
Speaking to CNN, Brennan stressed the magnitude of the situation, stating, “We hope to get up to a 100 trucks a day. So, we have got to rapidly scale up that assistance. This is not a sprint; this is just the start, this is a marathon.”
Despite this positive development, there are several challenges that need to be addressed for the aid delivery operation to be a success. Ensuring the safety of workers involved, repairing damaged roads, and securing respect for the convoys from all parties involved in the conflict are among the complex factors that need to be taken into account.
It is worth noting that Israel has given its assurance that it will allow humanitarian assistance from Egypt, as long as it is strictly limited to food, water, and medicine for the civilian population residing in the southern Gaza Strip or for those seeking refuge in the area. Any supplies intended for Hamas will be intercepted and blocked.
As WHO takes the lead in providing emergency aid, the hope is that this collaborative effort will bring some relief to the vulnerable population in the Gaza Strip, whose lives have been affected by the ongoing conflict.
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